Town manager Joe Royle says he is keen to sign Canadian wing sensation Jaime Peters. TWTD first reported on Saturday that the 17-year-old, already on the verge of Frank Yallop's national squad, was on trial with the Blues.
Royle says that the Ontario-born youngster who has been capped U17, U20 and U23 level and who was recently called up for a Canada B training camp is a player he is keen to sign: "The lad did very well in his time with us and we are definitely interested. But he has been with Millwall and was also committed to go to Derby, so we'll just have to wait and see.
"I have seen Jaime in training and I know what he can do. He has trained with the first team squad and he hasn't looked out of place.
"We don't have an out-and-out wide man in the club and we are throwing our hat into the ring. We have registered our interest and made it known to Jaime, but that's as far as it goes at the moment."
Peters, 5ft 6in tall, was part of German side Kaiserslautern's youth set-up until this summer but is now a free agent. He is a player Canadian soccer fans are already wanting to be called into their national side's first team squad.
Canada skipper Jason De Vos is a current Town player, while former Blue Frank Yallop is the national team boss and seventies full-back Bruce Twamley is coach of their U23 Olympic side. Royle hopes that these links may encourage the David Johnson look-a-like to commit to a move to Portman Road: "Obviously, we have Jason here, while Frank knows all about this club and our record with young players. That might be a pull, I don't know."
Peters, who is off for his trial with Derby today, is a player Yallop rates very highly: "He is one of four or five young players who are in my thoughts for promotion to the World Cup squad."
Peters was highly impressive in Saturday's U18 friendly with Liverpool and again in last night's reserve team pre-season game at Needham Market.