Town are understood to be closer to making French-Guinean midfielder Cheick Kourouma their second signing of the summer. TWTD was first to reveal that the Blues were targeting the 19-year-old a fortnight ago.

Kourouma spent the first half of last season in Italy with Genoa CFC Primavera, Genoa’s U20 team, but is believed to have joined the Blues on trial towards the end of the campaign, on the recommendation of Ibrahima Sonko, who is also understood to have pointed Town in the direction of one or two other potential signings before his release.

The powerful central midfielder is thought to have spent time with Reading during Sonko’s spell at the Madejski Stadium.

Kourouma is a free agent but as he is below 23-years-of-age development compensation is due to Genoa and his previous clubs, Real Zaragoza and Sochaux.

Meanwhile, Lillestrøm striker Bjorn Bergman Sigurdarson looks set to join Wolves with a fee of €3 million having been agreed, according to the Norwegian media. Town were amongst a host of clubs also eyeing the 20-year-old Icelandic frontman.

Photo: Action Images

TangoAlphaNovember added 12:21 - Jun 9 MattRichards4England.....what about JET for exciting the crowd? I am sure I am not the only one who sits up when he gets the ball. Danny Haynes was a speedy winger but little end product
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Mark added 12:29 - Jun 9 Excellent news, as it has been so long since we signed a player from overseas (excluding Ireland), especially a young player. Paying three clubs compensation, this reminds me of a similar situation I think under Magilton's management. Didn't we bring in a young lad and have to pay about four clubs? I can't remember his name, but he was released a few months after we signed him. Let's hope Kourouma is of the quality to push for a first team place right away.

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Vic added 12:46 - Jun 9 MattRichards4England - what a silly boy you are! Guess you didn't go last season and have never heard of JET? I just cannot get my head around people who reckon they support the Towen yet only ever post negative comments. Even though i'm sure they're being provocative, why do it? In what way does it help the club we all SUPPORT? Strange!
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Keaneish added 12:50 - Jun 9 I'm confused! Bullard, Hyam, Stephenson, Drury and now Kouruma... Looks a little lightweight to me and definitely in need of one more midfielder now we've lost Bowyer and Leadbitter. In my opinion we needed a decent ball winning midfield general to boss our midfield bring Hyam a long, clearly Kourouma isn't it but bringing one in to the mix now would make 3 defensive midfielders out of 6! I guess my point is, where are the players for next season? With 5 weeks left until pre-season starts we still need another 6 players as the two signings so far are clearly for the future. My confusion lies in the fact that Jewell said he wanted a squad of 20...!?

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Garv added 13:01 - Jun 9 Keaneish 5 weeks is a long time if you think about it. The closer we get to pre season the more transfers we will see go through.
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BlueArmy99 added 13:03 - Jun 9 NICE COYB
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radiogaga added 13:44 - Jun 9 Sounds like some of our fans are very negative and need a reality cheick..
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casanovacrow added 13:45 - Jun 9 I don't know anything about the guy but looking abroad is a positive sign so is looking at young players with potential of making the club financially sustainable. You'll be very lucky to make a profit or even breaking even when buying in a bunch of old farts. Hope he's not a shorty though, I am starting to get concerned about the lack of physical presence in the team. Even more concerned that none of these links have looked at solving the CB issue when it is blatantly obvious we are short of depth back there

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jas0999 added 14:02 - Jun 9 I don't know anything about this guy - so can't comment on his ability etc. However, pleasing to be linked to more youngsters - the question is will PJ play them or will they simply be back up/reserve/ youth team players? Time will tell. Personally, I still believe that Hyam was harshly treated by PJ. It's my opinion that Hyam was partly the reason why PJ still has a job, after frankly some terrible performances. However, PJ is the manager and must know better.

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alfromcol added 14:17 - Jun 9 He is a tad short of 6'
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ITFC4daprem added 14:25 - Jun 9 Right idea, things are on the up
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DiamondGezzer added 14:34 - Jun 9 Didn't I read, that the only reason Genoa are releasing him is because they have to lower their wage bill.
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Mungo added 14:51 - Jun 9 Mark - Are you thinking of Devan Yao? If so, that was all Roy Keane! However, it should give the club a bit more experience with what appears to be a similarly complex deal (with compensation apparently due to several clubs) so with a bit of luck it shouldn't be such a drawn out affair this time round.
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Dog added 15:03 - Jun 9 good to read the sensible comments on here. This lad is one for the future and hopefully has enough about him to push for a starting place. Don't forget the sub bench will now hold seven so we will need different options next season. A squad of 20 will not be enough. We will need 14-15 good players and then youth (Hyam, this lad and the Macc Lad to push on through next season). We all need to be patient. Go and watch your videos of the Jubilee and relax please.

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budgieplucker added 17:52 - Jun 9 Plus we need to field a side next season in the U21 league, we can use 3 over age players in any one match but we will need a few more signings around the 18 or 19 age to be able to try and put a side out that can dominate at this level. We certainly should try and dominate at under 21 to establish the sort of profile we need to try and attract top young talent to our academy.

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AlanMahon2011 added 19:16 - Jun 9 Who?
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bluey123 added 21:32 - Jun 9 Sounds like a good player who says so Jewell I suppose what a record he has utter rubbish
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Talbs77 added 21:38 - Jun 9 I think this is a really exciting signing, at the end of the day any young signing can go either way and he sounds well worth a punt. Good to see pj signing young hungry players although would feel slightly more re assured if a goalkeeper and centre half turned up sometime soon
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TractorBoy666 added 22:23 - Jun 9 Jeeeez, jas has any of your comments ever not had a dig at Jewell? You go back to the past with your comments. Never seen this guy play but has to be an interesting one to see play!
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ericgates added 06:17 - Jun 10 This sounds good news,keep them coming PJ.
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bluepeter added 09:03 - Jun 10 Talbs 77 is right, he could go EITHER way but Bullard, bowyer etc are only going ONE way!
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Joetown95 added 09:46 - Jun 10 Sounds good come on jewell sign him up.
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oohaahstevepalmer added 10:03 - Jun 10 Give the boy a chance, better than signing old has beens like bowyer!! Could turn out to be a gem like tiote at Newcastle for instance. Signing young hungry players is the way forward!!
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PeekFreans added 10:41 - Jun 10 Yep, time to re-configure the Kiwomya chants
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:52 - Jun 10 Hyam is going nowhere, few on here will have any knowledge of CK, but already doubt and doom gang are in overdrive . coyb
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