Town boss Roy Keane says he is closing in on his midfield replacement for the injured David Norris. Sunday’s Irish newspapers reported that the Blues are keen to bring forward November’s proposed signing of Bohemians youngster Gary Deegan.

Keane says he is narrowing his focus, but refused to be drawn on names: “There’s one I’ve got in mind.

“Sometimes you home in on the player you potentially really can get. There’s a lot of midfielders I admire out there, the Gerrards, the Lampards, but I’m not sure we’re in a position go and get them just yet.

”A lot of other managers speak about players at other football clubs, but I try not to do it.”

Deegan appeared likely to join the Blues in November when the Irish season ends, along with team-mate Brian Murphy, who TWTD revealed last Thursday is set to sign a pre-contract agreement with Town. However, reports in Ireland yesterday claimed that the Blues are looking to hasten his switch.

Bohemians manager Pat Fenlon wants to keep hold of the 21-year-old for as long as possible, with his club chasing three trophies at present, and has put a fee of €500,000 (£430,000) on his player’s head.

Town are unlikely to want to pay a fee of that magnitude for someone they could pick up for significantly less in a few weeks' time. Despite Deegan being out of contract in November, Bohemians and former club Shelbourne would both be due compensation under FIFA rules if he were to leave at the end of his deal. Wolves and Newcastle have also been linked.

One player Keane admits is unlikely to return to Portman Road is Giovani Dos Santos: “I’ve spoken to Harry Redknapp a number of times about one or two different players over the last few weeks and when Gio went back at the end of last season I always thought it would be difficult to get him back.

“When he first came here I raised my eyebrows thinking it was a good catch for Ipswich because he’s a talented boy.

”But you never know what might happen in the next week or two. We might have to wait until the last day to see what can happen, it’s different with loans anyway.

“As much as we’re homing in on one or two players, you have to be open-minded. Sometimes you make a call to a manager and hope he’ll get back to you. Some do, some don’t, and fingers crossed one or two might get back to me and a deal which we thought was dead might suddenly happen in the next week or so.”

Elsewhere, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has confirmed that Town’s attempt to sign striker Daryl Murphy is back on with discussions in progress: “Talks are ongoing as I understand it and we will just have to wait and see if these talks come to anything.”

Murphy was close to joining the Blues in a joint £5 million deal involving Dean Whitehead earlier in the summer and even got as far as having a medical at Portman Road.

That move collapsed when Hull City came in for the frontman, but talks between Murphy and the Tigers broke down and he is still at the Stadium of Light. Whitehead subsequently moved to Stoke.

TWTD revealed that the move was back on almost a fortnight ago, with a national newspaper incorrectly claiming that a deal had been done last week.

Keane says there have been no further enquiries regarding his players in recent days, but expects one or two departures as he wheels and deals in the final couple of weeks of the transfer window.

Photo: Action Images

Daleyitfc added 16:52 - Aug 17 I hope that Keane isn't JUST looking at the League of Ireland for new players : there are many players of similar talent playing for pub teams in Ipswich ....
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gypo added 16:55 - Aug 17 get sol cambell thats what we need a true leader on the field
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Sir_Bob added 17:39 - Aug 17 Sol Campbell, good shout
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BrightBlue added 17:46 - Aug 17 Sol Campbells wage demands would be fairly high but as he is a free agent maybe ME would stretch the coffers for his signature!! Would benefit our youngsters too to have someone with his wealth of experience with them on the pitch!
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BlueBoy94 added 18:47 - Aug 17 welsh boy.. that is loyalty!! gd on ya agree.. sol.. wataa shout!
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jas0999 added 18:47 - Aug 17 Agree with many others - a creative midfielder is a must. Trotter and Healy have failed to impress and with Norris / Peters injured . . . Also think we need another striker. Pablo is not fit, Wickham away on international duty. Stead has been poor - although he does play better as part of a front two. In defence, well McAuley has had another poor start to the season. But we have Bruce and Pim looks decent.

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Rozz added 18:53 - Aug 17 If we played a 4-4-2 with.. -----Priskin---------Stead------ Martin-Quinn-Garvan-Walters We've got ALOT of pace in the wings and two big lads up front. We could effectively move into a 4-2-4 when we're on the attack and I think we'd look dangerous. Hoping Priskin will get 90 minutes tomorrow so we can see what he really can do. COYB.
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BoxerBlue added 19:08 - Aug 17 Keep the faith we will get it right BLUE ARMY!!!!!!!!
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darren_cox added 19:23 - Aug 17 At this rate we will have an all Irish 11. Lets get more English players who are proven instead of gambling on unheard Irish lads.
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BlueBoy94 added 19:33 - Aug 17 rory293.. am liking yr suggestion...!! wud much prefer Bruce and pim CD and david wright full back n i guess will have too say delaney on the left!
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HalesworthBlue7 added 20:50 - Aug 17 Yes please Sol Campbell or Danny Shittu at the back as for central midfielder how about Nigel Reo-Coker on loan until Norris is back
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 20:57 - Aug 17 i know quinn isnt the long term answer but play him tomorrow. He was good v Shrewsbury
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Tiggs added 21:21 - Aug 17 What is it with you guys and Bruce. He was shown up to be what he actually is at Shrewsbury last week. Simply not good enough for the Championship. We certainly need another central defender and definitely another forward. As for midfield bring in Jake Caldbeck!
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greyhound33 added 21:44 - Aug 17 Sign someone that gets bum's on seats Keane - what player other than Walters can kids get excited about to drag there dad along to the match !! Why sign these untried unknown players may as well sign paddy to go along with murphy !!
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kipper added 21:48 - Aug 17 Anyone know if Pablo is anywhere near a return ?
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BrightBlue added 21:56 - Aug 17 He's expected to play in a reserve game on Wednesday.
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kipper added 21:59 - Aug 17 At least he will give us another option up front, alternatively Walters up front with Stead or Priskin would work
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ITFC_DOM added 23:28 - Aug 17 I have every bit of faith in Keano, but ANOTHER Irishman? perhaps next year we can get a wild card in to the Irish league?
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Rozz added 23:44 - Aug 17 We've said time and time again that attracting quality players into this division is tough. As far as I'm concerned Keane can build an Irish 11, aslong as its a decent Irish 11. I don't care who they are, where they're from, as long as they're up to the job.
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oldgit_reserves added 08:59 - Aug 18 who is he come on stop wasting getting people we have never heard of and get someone in useful who is not medeocre
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ABO1itfc added 09:53 - Aug 18 Definately Go 4-4-2 we are a much better side like that and if we added Daryl Murphy to the squad he would be a massive prospect for our strike force or even midfield
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tractor_lady added 14:03 - Aug 18 well if paper is correct he aint allowed to buy anyone till he sells, maybe that is why he can only bring in this quality of player - no budget! Sad when we are one of the richest clubs in the championship, oh dear boys and there toys Mr Sponsor....
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