TWTD understands that Stoke City’s former England man Matthew Upson is one of Blues manager Paul Jewell’s top central defensive loan targets. The Town boss is looking to add two centre-halves to his squad, ideally on loan with a view to permanent deals in January, once the emergency window opens at the weekend.

Suffolk boy Upson, 33, was born in Hartismere in Eye and played youth football alongside ex-Blues Richard Wright and Kieron Dyer with Whitton Sports.

The 6ft 1in tall defender, whose father Dickie is chairman of Thurlow Nunn League side Diss Town, was with the Blues' Centre of Excellence as a schoolboy but followed former Town youth coach Terry Westley to Luton and signed a pro deal in 1996.

Having made just one league sub appearance for the Hatters, he was sold to Arsenal in May 1997 for £2 million.

After six years at Arsenal, during which time he was unable to win a regular place and was sent out on loan to Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Reading, Upson moved on to Birmingham for a fee which could ultimately have risen to £3 million after clauses.

In January 2007 he was sold to West Ham for £6 million, leaving the Hammers after his contract expired following their 2010/11 relegation.

Blues boss Paul Jewell revealed that he had tried to recruit Upson following his Upton Park exit but instead he joined his current club Stoke, signing a two-year contract.

Capped 21 times by England including appearances at the 2010 World Cup, scoring two goals, Upson made 20 starts and four sub appearances last season, scoring one goal. His only involvement so far during this campaign was in the 4-3 Capital One Cup exit to Swindon Town.

As TWTD revealed yesterday, Town are currently running the rule over Southend's Bilel Mohsni, primarily a centre-half, while manager Jewell was at the U21 game between Arsenal and Everton last night with Gunners youngster Ignasi Miquel likely to have been the reason for his visit.

Photo: Action Images

Rorschach added 16:36 - Sep 4 I'll start. NO HE'S TOO OLD! BWAAAAAHHH!!!
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irishtim added 16:39 - Sep 4 Would not say no to this. Capable defender.
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Ipswich24 added 16:39 - Sep 4 Rorscach you have no idea do you? We need someone who can command the defence and add bit of experience. Smith is not good enough. I wouldnt mind Upson on loan with view to signing 1 year contract
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BoredWithThisNow added 16:40 - Sep 4 Makes sense, sound and experienced and wouldn't look a rabiit in the headlights (esp in this division) unlike our recent incumbents. Tick, yes please.
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Kesgraveblue57 added 16:40 - Sep 4 Dream on what money would he want
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TownLad21 added 16:40 - Sep 4 very experienced, and would help tommy smith and chambers, would be great if we got him
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wkj added 16:41 - Sep 4 I know this guy is in the dusk of his playing career, but he is one of the hardest working players around, I am pretty sure he would be here for more than a paycheck and I think he may be a good future coach of the game, some much needed experience and work rate in defense is my opinion.
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MarkITFC added 16:43 - Sep 4 Would be a good singing imo , you cant question how good he is . England CB in 2010 , he can deffo cut it out at this level , cant be any worse then smith , We have a young back four , chambers hasnt got massive experience he's only 26 , Chambers and Upson would be a great partnership !
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ThatMuhrenCross added 16:43 - Sep 4 Ha! Funny, I called for this signing on the Message Board a couple of days ago. Precisely what our backline needs. Quality, experience and leadership. A player like Chambers would thrive alongside him. Get this deal done, Mr. Jewell!
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Andy32Cracknell added 16:44 - Sep 4 I think this would be a super signing. get him in on loan then give him a 3yr contract in January. He will still be only 35. I remember mogga playing for us when he was 36 and he was well worth his place in the team even then.
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dirtyboy added 16:44 - Sep 4 I'm 32, and i'm not too old!! I'm still quicker than most who I play with and I'm carrying about a stone more than I used to! Quite dependent on how you look after yourself. At 33, given the level he's played at, i'd be pleased to have him in. Experience may prove invaluable, may have more to offer than being just a player too.
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Andy32Cracknell added 16:45 - Sep 4 He may be 36 in 3yrs time, i dont know lol
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casanovacrow added 16:46 - Sep 4 we could get him on a loan maybe but could never afford the wages to make it permanent. cant question his ability, just the direction Jewell said he is taking the club. He'd certainly strengthen our back line
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TractorBoy666 added 16:51 - Sep 4 I'd rather Miquel if i'm honest. Young and hungry, i know that people will say 'but we are developing another clubs player' but we're not in the prem are we.
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Mark added 16:51 - Sep 4 We do need some experience at the back and I wouldn't say no to Upson joining us on a season's loan with a view to a permanent move for the next year or two. If Hewitt comes into the defence, the average age of our back four will be 22 as things stand!
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TractorCam added 16:52 - Sep 4 I'd be pleased if we got him, great player in my opinion, and would the doubters prefer we have no-one over upson?
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NoCanariesAllowed added 16:54 - Sep 4 You can never please some people, can you. We have just two senior centre backs at the club and people still moan about us being linked with a former England international. Personally I'd be happy with this. Yes, he might be 33, but I think some people haven't looked at our current squad and still think that moaning at Jewell for buying old players is the trendy thing to do. We need experience now, folks, and I for one would welcome this signing.

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smallridge4 added 16:56 - Sep 4 yes okay, he's old, but he's a defender and a good one at that. IF it happens... I will be happy enough for sure
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Sindre94 added 16:57 - Sep 4 yes please :)
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walberswick added 16:57 - Sep 4 What's the point, he mus be on £20+ k a week. So pj paln is to fill in with loans and scrape through another season in a shambles. In amy other team, he would be sacked. He should have been sacked last December. We're now in limbo until ME does the decent thing and we've wasted another year. Nobody wil care what happens soon, this is so boring and predictable.
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Bezzer added 16:59 - Sep 4 Desperate times at PR. This would be a disastrous move for the town. Too slow, robotic and over the top. He has proved that at West Ham and Stoke. Not even Jewell is this dumb.......surely!!
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jamesmostevens added 17:10 - Sep 4 This sounds good. If he's on a two year deal at Stoke which is up this summer then he might be able to use a loan period to sort out his next deal. If the wages aren't ridiculous this has to be a good move with a view to a 2 or 3 year deal to follow based on championship wages. Depends how much he is slowing down at 33 really - surely a loan would help us to assess this.If he gets a prem deal in the summer then he will have had an excellent loan spell, so how much do we lose out?

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billlm added 17:15 - Sep 4 2 yr deal max but i think there will be a better bargain out there 4 what money he may be on
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Edmunds5 added 17:18 - Sep 4 People have to understand that we're Ipswich Town, a decent club but we're not in the Premier League, we're not Man City or Chelsea. We can't pick and choose all the time, their aren't lots of players available particularly in a loan market and when players become available, especially ones of the calibre of Upson we have to try and take a chance. We cannot keep saying 'he's too old', 'he's too slow' ect..., every player has faults, the point is we need a centre back, preferably experienced but wether it be Upson or Moshni I'm for either because if they add to the team and help us out at the back then it would be a great benefit too us with regards to our defensive situation.

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BlueVelvet added 17:20 - Sep 4 get him in
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