Southampton midfielder Rudi Skácel's move to Portman Road looks set to be finalised in the next few days. On Tuesday, TWTD was first to break the news that Town were set to sign the Czech international.

We understand Skácel was at Playford Road on Tuesday for talks regarding personal terms, with the Blues and Saints agreeing a fee of £1 million for the 28-year-old.

The 5ft 10in tall midfielder is well known to Town's new international scout Simon Hunt, who took him to Hearts during his time at Tynecastle and also to Southampton while at St Mary's.

Skácel started his career with Hradec Králové in his home country, moving on to Slavia Prague in 2002.

After just over a year with Slavia, during which time he won the Czech Cup and was in the Czech team which won the 2002 European U21 Championships, the left-sided player joined Olympique Marseille in France for €2.5 million, where spent two years but failed to make a serious impression, particularly after manager Alain Perrin moved on.

Loan spells at Panathinaikos and then Hearts followed, before a permanent £1.6 million switch to Southampton in the summer of 2006, the Trutnov-born player signing a four-year deal.

In January, Skácel, who can also play at left-back, joined Hertha Berlin in the German Bundesliga in an attempt to win himself a place in the Czech squad at Euro 2008, something he felt was unlikely if he was playing in the Championship.

Skácel, who has been capped five times by his country, scoring his only goal on his debut against Canada in 2003, was called into the Czech squad for the tournament as a late replacement but failed to make an appearance.

Hertha are believed to have had an option to sign Skácel but have decided against making the move a permanent one.

Elsewhere, Peterborough keeper Joe Lewis is the latest name mentioned as a possible new Town keeper, although this looks to be speculation purely based on the former Norwich stopper having worked with new Blues coach James Hollman in the past.

As reported earlier in the week, Town's move for former Blue Richard Wright has stalled, probably because of uncertainty regarding Robert Green's future, with Aston Villa and Blackburn believed to be interested in the England keeper.

Elsewhere, former Blue Micky Stockwell will be SGR FM's commentary pundit when they begin their three years of home and away Town coverage in August. Mark Scott, previously with IRN, is believed to be joining Stockwell behind the microphones.

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