Town manager Paul Jewell has confirmed that the Blues are trying to sign Aston Villa right-back Habib Beye on loan. The Blues boss hopes that the 33-year-old could be at Portman Road before the weekend.
Jewell said: "We’re trying to bring a couple of players into the squad. I know you’re going to ask about Habib Beye because he’s been mentioned, and I have spoken to Aston Villa. That’s something that we’re trying to do to improve the squad.
"We’re looking at all areas to try and improve what we’ve got. The lads are doing great at the moment and we’re just trying to bolster what we’ve already got here.”
Jewell is looking to get the deal done in the next couple of days: "I’m hoping so but he was in France yesterday. I spoke to Paul Faulkner, the chief executive at Aston Villa, but I haven’t heard anything since yesterday.”
But even if Beye signs, the Blues boss says he won’t be in his team taking on Hull City at Portman Road at the weekend: "I think if I was a player in a 6-0 victory and I got left out I’d be upset, so he definitely won’t be going into the side on Saturday.
"He’s a good player, he’s one that I think can play in a number of positions and would improve our squad. It’s not a team effort, it’s a squad effort and I think he’ll give us another option.”
Jewell says there will be only one change to his weekend team with midfielder Jimmy Bullard unavailable under the terms of his loan from the Tigers.
New signing Andy Drury could come in for his first start, while Jaime Peters and Luke Hyam are also options to take Bullard’s central midfield role.