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Town Eyeing Shrews Defender Beckles - Ipswich Town News

TWTD understands Town are eyeing a move for defender Omar Beckles, who is currently with Paul Hurst’s former club Shrewsbury.

The 26-year-old is primarily a centre-half but spent much of last season playing at left-back in the absence of the injured Junior Brown.

Speaking on Saturday, Blues boss Hurst confirmed he was after two centre-halves following the departure of Adam Webster to Bristol City.

Blackpool’s Curtis Tilt was recently the subject of a £550,000 Town offer but the Seasiders are targeting a £1 million for the 26-year-old with Rangers now believed to be keen. Discussions between the clubs are understood to be continuing.

Hurst interest in his Shrewsbury players has been widely expected with another centre-half Toto Nsiala also believed to be someone the new Town manager has considered recruiting from the Shrews, while midfielder Jon Nolan has been linked on a number of occasions.

Having spent time with Millwall as a youngster, Leytonstone-born Beckles, who is contracted to the Shrews until the summer of 2020, joined the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Spain during which time he played for locally-based lower league side Jerez Industrial.

Spells back in English non-league with Boreham Wood (twice), Kettering, Billericay, Histon, Margate, AFC Hornchurch, St Albans City and Aldershot followed before he broke into the EFL with Accrington Stanley in 2016/17.

After one season in League Two Hurst took the 6ft 3in tall central defender up a division to Shrewsbury, where he made 43 starts and four sub appearances, scoring three goals as the Shropshire side reached the League One play-offs during 2018/19 having finished third.

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