Former Reading and Stoke central defender Ibrahima Sonko has hinted that he’s on the way to join the Blues. The 30-year-old has been on trial back with the Royals for the last few weeks but has not been offered a contract.
Earlier this evening, the Senegalese international tweeted that he may be reunited with his one-time Reading team-mate Ãvar Ingimarsson: "There was not a follow up from Reading. It looks like I could meet with my friend Ãvar again soon instead.”
Later, he added: "Nothing done but heard from my agent that I'm an option that they're really looking into, and talking to them so we'll see."
Born in Bignona, Senegal but having moved to France as a baby, Sonko began his career with Town’s old UEFA Cup foes St Etienne, moving on to Grenoble, where he made his first senior appearances, in 1999.
Three years later, he joined Brentford, the 6ft 3in tall defender spending two seasons at Griffin Park before joining Reading on a Bosman in 2004.
Capped four times by Senegal, scoring one goal, Sonko became a cult hero at the Madejski Stadium and acquired the nickname ‘Superman’ for his exceptional leaping ability as he helped Steve Coppell’s side into the Premier League.
Stoke paid an initial £2 million for his services in August 2008 but his time at the Britannia Stadium was less successful. Loans at Hull City and Portsmouth followed, before he was released at the end of last season.
Sonko rejoined Reading on trial this summer and played in a number of pre-season games but was not offered a deal by his old club.
Town boss Paul Jewell is very much in the market for another central defender with Sonko’s ex-team-mate Ingimarsson set to miss Saturday’s game against Hull with a thigh injury and Damien Delaney having returned to training today having turned his ankle in last week’s win at Bristol City.
Sonko is not the player who Jewell revealed Town had made an offer for earlier in the week, with that target, believed to be Liverpool's Daniel Ayala, contracted to a club.