Town are hoping to complete the signing of Brentford midfielder Jonathan Douglas before the weekend. The 33-year-old has another year left on his Bees contract but has been made available and we understand he will join the Blues on a free transfer.
With the clubs believed to have agreed terms on the deal, Douglas is expected at Portman Road today for talks and a medical with the Blues hoping that the move will be finalised prior to Saturday’s opening game of the Championship season, coincidentally against the Bees at Griffin Park.
Monaghan-born Douglas moved to England in 2000 when he joined Blackburn Rovers. While at Ewood Park he spent time on loan at Chesterfield, Blackpool and Gillingham before moving on to Leeds in 2005.
After four years at Elland Road, the 6ft tall holding midfielder moved to Swindon before he joined Brentford in 2011.
Douglas, who has been capped eight times by the Republic of Ireland, signed a new contract with the Bees in February but is not in new manager Marinus Dijkhuizen's plans and last month he was told he could move on.
"He is not part of the squad and is training separately. There is no future for him," Dijkhuizen told BBC London.
"We decided it is better for him to move on - for his future and for the future of Brentford."
Last season Douglas made 46 starts and scored eight goals as the Bees finished fifth in the Championship, one place above Town.
Last week, the Blues missed out on signing another Brentford player, Northern Irish winger Stuart Dallas, who is set to join Leeds United in a £1.25 million deal.
Elsewhere, ex-Blues striker Connor Wickham has completed his £9 million move from Sunderland to Crystal Palace. The fee is reportedly an initial £6 million potentially rising to the higher figure after top-up clauses.
If the fee is as reported Town won't immediately receive anything from the sell-on clause - an undisclosed percentage of any profit - included in the 2011 deal which saw the 22-year-old join the Black Cats.
Wickham moved for an initial £8.1 million with a number of appearance milestones understood to have been triggered during his time on Wearside.