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Drissa Released - Ipswich Town News

Town have released central defender Drissa Diallo after two years with the club. However, skipper Jim Magilton and full-back Fabian Wilnis have been offered one-year extensions to their stays at Portman Road.

Diallo joined on a free transfer from Burnley in the summer of 2003 but has missed lengthy spells of both his Town seasons through injury.

The Guinean international eventually established himself in the side early last autumn at his less-preferred role of right-back. The former Mechelen player's spell in the side coincided with Town's best period of the season.

Just before Christmas, the 32-year-old tore a hamstring and was out of action until the latter stages of the season. His final start for the Blues came in the play-off semi-final first leg at West Ham when he was given a torrid time by Matthew Etherington and was replaced at half-time.

The Mauritania-born defender made 49 appearances during his time with Town, failing to score a goal.

Fabian Wilnis will be pleased to have been offered a new deal and stated his intention to remain with the Blues if he was offered a new contract shortly after Town's play-off semi-final second leg defeat.

Skipper Jim Magilton, 36, is also expected to stay for what will almost certainly be his final season as a player. The former Northern Irish international is keen to become a coach once he hangs up his boots.

Town are keen to keep both Tommy Miller and Shefki Kuqi, who are also out of contract. TWTD understands that the reported Sunderland interest in Miller goes back some while and that the midfielder, whose house is on the market, is all but certain to join the Black Cats over the summer.

Kuqi has said he is keen to remain with the Blues but that could depend on whether he has any other lucrative offers on the table.

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