Aston Villa right-back Habib Beye will join the Blues on loan today, according to reports in Birmingham. The 33-year-old will move to Portman Road for an initial month with a view to remaining with Town for the rest of the season.
Reports of Paul Jewell’s interest in the French-born Senegalese international first surfaced yesterday, although the Blues boss wouldn’t be drawn on Beye when asked about him after last night’s 6-0 hammering of Doncaster.
The full-back or central defender has made only 14 starts and two sub appearances since he joined Villa from Newcastle in the summer of 2009, last featuring in the Carling Cup in October. Recently he has been training with the reserves and has had his commitment to the cause questioned by manager Gerard Houllier.
Beye’s first English club was Newcastle United, who paid Marseille £2 million for the six-foot tall defender in August 2007. Prior to that he was with Paris St Germain and Strasbourg.
On Monday, Jewell revealed that he was hoping to bring in "one or two” loan players before the end of the week with a right-back a not unlikely target with Carlos Edwards currently playing in what is an unfamiliar role.
Villa are understood to have negotiated a 24-hour recall on Beye during his initial month in case they require him to cover further injuries to defenders.
Meanwhile, the Blues are one of a number of clubs understood to be monitoring Chesterfield striker Craig Davies. The 25-year-old has scored 16 goals this season, having joined the Spireites from Brighton in the summer.
The much-travelled Welsh international started his career with Manchester City and has subsequently played for Oxford United, Hellas Verona in Italy, Wolves (loan), Oldham, Stockport (loan), Brighton, Yeovil (loan) and Port Vale (loan).