Newspaper reports this morning claim that Aston Villa are to launch a late bid to try to bring Hassan Kachloul to Villa Park. The Moroccan has told Town he will sign a three year with them and is due for a medical and press conference at Portman Road on Thursday.
However, John Gregory is reported to be ready to offer Kachloul a large pay packet to encourage him to join his club. George Burley, remains confident that Hassan is Town's man: "He hasn't put pen to paper yet, but I have no reason to think he won't keep his word and do it on Thursday when he is back from holiday."
Kachloul stated earlier in the week that the lure of European football was one reason for his decision to join Town. That is something that Aston Villa will not be able to give him.
Burley has also said that Kachloul will join Town's pre-season training from the beginning. The Moroccan has been playing with his national side, but won't get the extra week's break that Matt Holland and Hermann Hreidarsson, who were also in international action, will be granted.
Newspaper stories this morning are linking Arsenal with an £8 million bid for Richard Wright. The Londoners have been trying to sign Feyenoord's Polish keeper Jerzy Dudek, but the deal has met difficulty and the Gunners are turning their attentions to Wright.
The Town keeper has been consistently linked with Arsenal and a number of other clubs over the years. Given that he has recently signed a new contract and Town have no need to sell, we imagine Wright will be lining up between the Town posts come August.