Southampton head coach Jan Poortvliet says Town are in "final negotiations” with midfielder Rudi Skácel. Last week the Czech international was at Playford Road and underwent a medical after a £1 million fee was agreed between the clubs.

Skácel subsequently returned to Prague to consider whether to join the Blues with rumours of the deal collapsing over personal terms. The 28-year-old is also believed to be concerned that his chances of playing for his country could be affected by him playing outside a top division. Sides in the Bundesliga, where Skácel ended last season on loan with Hertha Berlin, were also believed to be interested.

Poortvliet says Skácel, who has returned to St Mary's for pre-season training, will be leaving his club and suggests that a move to Town is close: "There is no future for him here. He is in final negotiations with Ipswich.

"We have to let some of the players go. We want young players with some experienced players and when all of the squad are here the kids don't get a chance."

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, Skácel 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 made his move to Hertha Berlin 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.

Skácel, who is primarily a left midfielder but was used as a left-back on occasion while with the Saints, is well known to Town's new international scout Simon Hunt who brought him to both Hearts and Southampton.

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