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Veteran Boateng Training With Town - Ipswich Town News

TWTD understands that former Coventry, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Hull City midfielder George Boateng is currently training with Town. The 35-year-old is a free agent having been released from his contract with Greek side Skoda Xanthi at the end of the season.

Boateng, who was previously targeted by former Town manager Roy Keane in 2009 when his high wages proved a stumbling block, looks an ideal candidate for the holding midfield role Paul Jewell has been looking to fill this summer.

Born in Nkawkaw, Ghana, Boateng moved to Holland as a child and started his career with Rotterdam club Excelsior before moving across the city to Feyenoord in 1995.

In December 1997 he moved to Coventry City for £250,000, then a £4.5 million move to Aston Villa followed in July 1999, the midfielder playing in the 2000 FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea.

Middlesbrough paid £5 million for Boateng’s services in August 2002 and was in the sides which won the 2004 League Cup and lost the 2006 UEFA Cup final.

Hull City was Boateng’s next port of call in July 2008, the Tigers paying £1 million for a player who was to become a close friend of former Town loanee Jimmy Bullard during his time at the KC Stadium.

Capped four times by Holland earlier in his career, Boateng left Hull for Greek side Skoda Xanthi in July 2010, signing a two-year deal and playing alongside recent Town signing Nathan Ellington during his loan spell with the Greek club last season. It's understood that Boateng and Skoda agreed to go their separate ways at the end of 2010/11.

Yesterday, TWTD reported that Town could sign two players prior to next week’s pre-season tour of Holland with Lee Bowyer and Boateng looking the favourites to be Jewell’s fifth and sixth summer additions to his squad.

Elsewhere, former Blue Tommy Miller has joined Jordan Rhodes, Gary Roberts and Alan Lee at Huddersfield Town having been released by Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the season.

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