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Gorman: Trialist is Ronaldo-esque - Ipswich Town News

Assistant manager John Gorman has confirmed that trialist Lino Goncalves will be with the Blues next week on his recommendation. Gorman says the former Fulham academy winger is very much in the style of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Gorman said: "He is going to come in and train with us. He is a wee bit like Ronaldo, with a lot of ability. He models himself on Ronaldo.

"I have recommended him and Jim has been brilliant in letting him come so he will be here next week.

"It will be interesting to see if the rest of the coaches thought he is up to the standard. He is still a young lad but he has talent.”

Like Ronaldo, 20-year-old Goncalves, who'll spend two weeks at the club, hails from the Portuguese island of Madeira.

Meanwhile, reports this morning are playing down Argentinian claims that Town will take only a 50% stake in Club Banfield midfielder Luciano Civelli. The Blues confirmed their interest in the 22-year-old yesterday.

Neither club has officially commented on the make up of the proposed deal, although it is not uncommon for South American players to be part-owed by investors or for their clubs to keep a stake in them after they move on.

Talks between the clubs are ongoing but it is not yet clear when the player would come over for talks regarding personal terms.

Town have also confirmed that the presence of two trialists at Playford Road in recent days, an unnamed Brazilian defender and a Czech striker, who is almost certainly Sparta Prague youngster Petr Putz, who TWTD revealed was set for a spell with the Blues on Sunday.

The Blues are again being linked with diminutive Chesterfield striker Jamie Ward, who recently faced the Blues in the FA Cup. Ward was first mentioned in connection with the Blues earlier in the week.

The striker's proposed £400,000 move to Barnsley fell through due to a disagreement regarding personal terms and the Tykes appear to have ended their interest.

Various other clubs including Leeds, Derby, Sheffield United, Peterborough and Scunthorpe are also claimed to be chasing the 22-year-old frontman.

Elsewhere, defender Chris Casement is set to make his debut for loan club Wycombe Wanderers against Grimsby at Adams Park on Saturday.

And finally, Aston Villa are reported to be ready to pay £14 million for ex-Blue Darren Bent, while Fulham are targeting Nuremberg striker Angelos Charisteas, a player that Town were interested in during the summer.

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