Veteran midfielder George Boateng, who recently spent three days training with the Blues, has signed a one-year deal with Nottingham Forest. The 35-year-old trained with Forest, who are managed by his old Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren, after his spell with Town.

Boateng confirmed the news via his Twitter account: "Today I am so pleased to say that I am going to play for Nottingham Forest for the season and I am so happy to be back in English football."

Speaking after yesterday's 2-2 draw at Cambridge United, Town manager Paul Jewell hinted that he had other targets in mind for the holding midfield role with Guy Moussi and now Boateng both signing on at the City Ground: “George trained with us for three days. He just came in and trained with us and he did OK.

“We are after another midfield player that we’ve spoken about for a while. We know we need a centre-half, a midfield player, and we’re looking for another striker and another winger, so that tells you that we want competition for places in the team. We know that we’ve got to get better.”

Meanwhile, Belgian international midfielder Faris Haroun, linked with the Blues earlier in the summer, is believed to be interesting Standard Liege. Haroun is expected to leave his current club Germinal Beerschot this summer as they look to offload their higher earners.

Elsewhere, Leeds boss Simon Grayson has confirmed that he tried to take new Blues midfielder Lee Bowyer back to Elland Road: “We did talk to Lee about the possibility of coming to Leeds but he went to Ipswich for family and geographical reasons.”

Photo: Action Images

PartyDaz added 10:38 - Jul 20 WTF?!
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Lightningboy added 10:43 - Jul 20 Phewwwwww..we've got enough oldies..need a bit more creativity in that midfield.
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BarryTownExile added 10:45 - Jul 20 Dodged a bullet there eh! Should free up the treatment table and buffet for other players.
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Gus added 10:49 - Jul 20 Boateng has kept himself seriously fit, I wouldn't bet against him playing most of Forest's games next year
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algarvefan added 10:54 - Jul 20 Seems to me we are missing most of our targets, think he would have been a good solid player for 12 months for us....back to the drawing board PJ, we need to fix a defence like ours quickly.
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Wickets added 11:02 - Jul 20 DONT PANIC, its a long season.
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norfolk_mighty_horse added 11:11 - Jul 20 This is probably a good thing, should give PJ some more time to tighten up the defence as this is a real worry. Is it also time for Carlos to move on as well? (granted it will make at lest 3 people needed!!)
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robdaful added 11:13 - Jul 20 Bad thing. Just the type of player we need for a year or two. After our performance against Cambridge last night.
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Royalblue added 11:47 - Jul 20 Some people on here baffle me! If he plays really well for us for a year who cares if he is 35 or 25. Boateng was clearly good enoguh for Jewell and McClaren but not some people on this site, he would have really added something and probably brought along Hyam. You need know how in this league and that only comes with experience!
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tractaboy added 12:01 - Jul 20 So nobody wants to come to Ipswich because of it's location eh Mr Keane?
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cooper4england added 12:11 - Jul 20 I think the key here is PJ stating "in training he did ok".Hardly waxing lyrical. Sure he would have been a decent signing but I, like many, would rather see a few signing that will be the future of the club. If that means one more medicore season, whilst they bed in, so be it.
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whoppit added 12:14 - Jul 20 Thank god for that
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MarkITFC added 12:58 - Jul 20 thank fu*k for that
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Nath added 13:18 - Jul 20 Yeah, lucky escape there !.
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oddball added 13:19 - Jul 20 Foolish to think that this is a lucky escape, would have been a good signing. We are missing out alot to likes of Leicester etc, desperately need signings if to compete for big prize, but in PJ we trust.
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Garv added 13:29 - Jul 20 Bizarre how he was good enough for two top managers but not the fans who have no coaching experience or real football knowledge.
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tractorboy2434 added 13:55 - Jul 20 This is a good news day, first Boateng goes to Forest and then we hear that we are not after Ched Evans, thank god for that, although it does mean that our management team will probably have to do some serious scouting, never mind pretty much used to being last in the queue by now.
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suffolkpoker added 14:33 - Jul 20 all i can is PHEW...
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BrettenhamBlue added 17:06 - Jul 20 Boateng would have been a quality signing for a year. To be fair, his options were Notts Forest or us...who would we pick at the moment?
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jas0999 added 17:23 - Jul 20 Not at all worried by this. Good news actually. It had to be Boateng OR Bowyer, so after Lee signed there was no need to persue this. I understand the argument for experience, but two 34+ year olds in the midfield? No, not for me. We lack pace and creativity in the centre of the park - so Boateng really doesn't fit the bill.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 17:43 - Jul 20 agree jas0999, not the type of player we need now, pace & creativity in midfield, a new CB, & a another new striker, dare I say a new GK too!
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Handsome_Lizard added 19:36 - Jul 20 Bye bye and see you later
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h32 added 23:14 - Jul 20 jason0999 - you're right there, but my concern is where are these players we need coming from ?? - this squad is definitely not strong enough to do anything this season other than struggle in my opinion. Still talking about signing players, and yes, much talk but very little doing - and it is almost the end of JULY !!! Not at all enthralled with what's going on right now.
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DiamondGezzer added 06:37 - Jul 21 I'm on the fence with this one, can see the ' fors and againsts '. Still, there's no choice now and as has been stated, there are other options out there. h32 :- As for new signings, I'm as eager as you, but I think these things take a lot more time than they used to and I believe are a lot harder to complete.Glad I only have to sit back and see the results of PJ's efforts. It'll come good IMHO.

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TractorRoyNo1 added 07:56 - Jul 21 good
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