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Town in Talks With Ward - Ipswich Town News

TWTD understands Town are in talks with former Republic of Ireland international left-back Stephen Ward about joining the club.

The 34-year-old free agent appears to have impressed the Blues management since starting training at Playford Road on Monday having left Stoke City at the end of 2019/20. If a deal is agreed, Ward will become Town’s first senior addition of the summer.

Ward started his career with hometown club Bohemians before joining Wolves, at the time managed by Mick McCarthy, in January 2007 with then-Town boss Jim Magilton having confirmed that the Blues were also interested.

Ward spent seven years at Molineux featuring regularly in the Premier League before moving on to Burnley in 2014.

"After five further seasons in the top flight at Turf Moor, the 5ft 11in tall left-back or winger moved to Stoke last summer. However, he made only 17 appearances and left at the end of the season. Ward has been capped 50 times by the Republic of Ireland, scoring three times.

Given Town’s limited scope for additions within the salary cap, Ward signing would end the Blues’ interest in bringing former loanee Luke Garbutt back to Portman Road on a permanent basis.

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