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Jewell: Targets All Youngsters - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Paul Jewell has revealed that all three of the targets the Blues made bids for over the weekend are young players, with one a teenager.

Jewell refused to be drawn on their precise identities but told the club site: "What I will confirm is that the three players are aged 24 and under.

"While we can't sign every player under 20, we are definitely going to put the emphasis on bringing younger players to the football club.

"I'm on record already in saying that I got the balance wrong in terms of the number of older players we brought in.

"We need experience in the side and in the squad but looking forward and for the long-term future of the club, we will be focusing on younger players. The three players we have made bids for fall into that category, in fact one is a teenager."

We understand that despite the Blues showing interest in Swindon pair Matt Ritchie and Paul Caddis, the duo are not the two players from the same club that Jewell revealed had been targeted over the weekend.

Left-footed right winger Ritchie in particular, however, is a player who has impressed the Blues on their regular visits to the County Ground to monitor the progress of on-loan striker Ronan Murray this season. Talks are ongoing with the Robins regarding the Irish U21 international's future.

Meanwhile, Leicester are reported set to hand a start to Sean St Ledger, whose move to the Blues was halted last week, when they play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup replay this evening. St Ledger hasn't played for the Foxes since being involved in a bust-up with manager Nigel Pearson after he was left out of their side facing Town on Boxing Day.

Elsewhere, Colchester boss John Ward has dismissed rumours linking the Blues with defender Magnus Okuonghae: "Ipswich have not spoken to me about Magnus."

Ex-Blue Hermann Hreidarsson has completed his move from Portsmouth to Coventry, signing a deal until the end of the season.

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