TWTD understands that chief executive Derek Bowden is the Town representative who has travelled to Spain for talks regarding the signing of Málaga centre-half César Navas.

Bowden arrived in Málaga earlier today to negotiate the signing of the 6ft 4in tall defender. The Blues' interest in the former Real Madrid B player appeared to cool in the weeks since he fractured the third metatarsal of his right foot while on trial with Town, but the move now appears to be very much on the cards.

Navas impressed the Portman Road management during his trial spell, which was ended early by the injury sustained in the pre-season game at Crawley. The 27-year-old will be out of action for another four weeks, but has no history of foot injuries and is keen to move to England.

Málaga are eager to offload Navas's La Liga-sized wages — his salary makes up a seventh of their overall wage bill - and sent him out on loan to Gimnàstic de Tarragona last season, where he recorded an unfortunate double of a second successive relegation from the Spanish top flight, Málaga having been demoted a year earlier.

With a year remaining on Navas's Málaga contract, €500,000 (£336,000) was recently mentioned as a possible fee, although prior to the injury Málaga wanted €1 million (£670,000) for the Madrid-born defender.

Town have looked at other centre-halves in recent weeks, including a trip to the Czech Republic, apparently to watch Sparta Prague's Jan Simunek who subsequently signed for German side Wolfsburg for €5 million (£3.4 million), but it appears Navas is still the Blues' management's preferred option.

Get the fastest and most comprehensive Ipswich Town news service at ipswichtown.footballlatest.co.uk.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls