Boss Paul Jewell is confident the Blues can cut through the swathe of red tape which is preventing French midfielder Cheick Kourouma from signing his contract. The 19-year-old has agreed terms with the Blues but finalising agreements with his former clubs is holding up the free agent’s move to Portman Road.
Jewell said: "It’s very complicated. I thought we were just going to sign this player as he came in last season [on trial] and did really well for a week.
"He’s come in, he’s trained well this morning, and I wasn’t aware until yesterday that there was a bit of red tape to do with compensation or whatever.”
Town need agreements in place with his former clubs Genoa, Real Zaragoza and Sochaux as development compensation is due (although none would probably actually be paid) as he is below 23 years of age.
The club has to be careful to get these issues resolved in case one of his former clubs comes chasing cash in the future.
Jewell added: "They might turn around and want £200,000 and the situation might be a bit different.
"Sometimes you put yourself in the hands of the agent and the agent maybe hasn’t quite got the full story, but I’m hopeful it will happen.”