Boss Jim Magilton says returning striker Pablo Couñago has “all the attributes to be top class”. The Spaniard is set to rejoin the Blues on a free transfer in Friday with a medical pencilled in for Thursday. Meanwhile, speculation grows regarding Alan Lee's Town future.

Magilton told the club site that he expects more from the former Spanish U21 international than was seen in his previous four years at Portman Road: "I have always looked at Pablo as a player with all the attributes to be top class.

"He enjoyed a good relationship with the fans of this club, but I don't think anyone really saw the best of Pablo in his first spell here.

"He has matured and comes back to us at a good age. He has a different outlook, which comes with experiences on and off the pitch, and he is desperate to come back and show everyone at this football club what he can do.

"He wants to come and play for me. He wants to come and play for the supporters and the club. I think he feels he has a point to prove and he's determined to come here and give it everything he's got."

Meanwhile, Alan Lee's time at Portman Road looks increasingly likely to come to an end over the course of the next few days with Hull City understood to have made a £500,000 offer for the Republic of Ireland striker.

Lee himself is believed to be happy at Town, but with only a year left on his contract and no new deal on the table, a move to another Championship club on improved terms may be too much of a lure. Coventry City are also interested in the £100,000 January 2006 signing from Cardiff, but Phil Brown's Tigers currently look to be favourites for his signature.

The 28-year-old's departure could see the Blues make a move for another striker. Coventry's Dele Adebola and Bury's Andy Bishop have both been linked with the Blues in recent months, while David Sheepshanks has hinted that Town's interest in Franny Jeffers may not be completely dead. Newcastle youngster Andrew Carroll was recently reported to be a potential loan target.

Speculation regarding Lee's long-term Town future has persisted since the unauthorised Christmas trip to Amsterdam, despite the club repeatedly stating that they have no plans to sell last season's 17-goal top scorer.

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