Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman has revealed that the Blues are closing in on the signing of central defender Janoi Donacien. TWTD understands Town have agreed a deal with the League One club but with personal terms and the other formalities relating to the move still to be finalised.

The 24-year-old St Lucian, who also plays at right-back, missed training today and when quizzed by the Lancashire Telegraph Coleman said the 6ft tall defender is close to joining the Blues.

Donacien, who moved to the UK with has family in 2001, was an academy youngster with Luton, Tottenham and Aston Villa before spending time out on loan with Tranmere, Wycombe and Newport while a Villans player.

Having failed to break into the first team at Villa Park, Donacien moved to Accrington on a free transfer in the summer of 2016. Since then he has made 85 starts and seven sub appearances, scoring once. Last season he helped Stanley to the League Two title.

Town are desperately in need of additions at centre-half with skipper Luke Chambers currently the only out-and-out senior central defender on the books following Adam Webster's departure to Bristol City.

Asked Coley about Janoi Doancien who wasn’t here today. His answer: ‘I think it’s getting finalised today, not done yet, but I’d be surprised if he’s not an Ipswich player by tonight.’ #ASFC #ITFC– Alex James (@alexjameshack) July 30, 2018

Donacien could be one of two central defensive signings the Blues make before Saturday's opening game against Blackburn with manager Paul Hurst implying that Curtis Tilt being rested by Blackpool on Saturday could be good news in his long-standing pursuit of the 26-year-old.

If Donacien completes his move to the Blues he will become the second St Lucian to represent Town following striker Earl Jean, who made one sub appearance in December 1996.

Yesterday, Town were again linked with another Accrington player, striker Kayden Jackson.

Photo: Action Images

RoyalAscotBlue added 12:18 - Jul 30 Another right sided centre half, or fullback. Suspect Janoi will be cover rather than straight into the first team but he's another young and hungry player with something to prove so he's welcome in my book. Another permanent addition too. Hopefully the rumours about Tilt arriving soon are also true as we need a left sided partner for Chambers.
4

StokeHigh97 added 12:20 - Jul 30 Hurst transfer business is clearly signing good hungry players from the lower leagues & I for one am delighted too see us recruiting down this route: I don't no the player but after watching Edwards, Harrison Sat proves there's good quality in League 1/2: be interesting if we still sign Tilt which I believe we need plus maybe Jackson with some reports suggesting we could sign him: it's going to be a busy last period of the window whether Waghorn goes or not which I think he will! Spend the money now & sell him after we get in the players from whatever the deal will be instead of selling him & clubs no we've 4/5+M to spend & therefore players values go up: keep up the good work Hurst

6

lightingblue added 12:25 - Jul 30 The should've been done Last Christmas. As usual the very next day they took it away!! If we sign these two which should we call George and which one Andrew
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Edmundo added 12:26 - Jul 30 I'm not a pessimistic person, far from it, but despite a great start in pre season i think it'll be tough for us till Christmas. However, the better style should keep us entertained which is good enough for me.
3

hopefulblue added 12:30 - Jul 30 Toxteth and tractor tommy surely your both brothers or father and son? yo must be the two most negative and depressing people on this site, never a good word typed by either of you,if you dislike the club that much do one. adam webster was signed from league two btw if you comparing signings, why don't u both hit mick up on insta and ask if he needs a couple of ball boys at his new club...…...oh yh! im sure u would both rather us sign the likes of douglas, ebanks blake, coke, leon best and the list goes on. you both need to get down the doctors and tell him you need depression pills

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Lightningboy added 12:35 - Jul 30 Those still moaning about our signings just don't get it,do they. Hurst is building a team full of our kids & the best from the lower leagues. 10 years of signing has beens & players more interested in their wage packets is thankfully over. I love what he's doing..just give him and the team time..i'm sure the majority of our fans feel the same.
20

Millsey added 12:42 - Jul 30 Sorry Lightningboy wrong should have be agreed 😩
1

happybeingblue added 12:46 - Jul 30 Didn't Burnley get promoted by buying quite a few lower league players both times they went up to the Premier league, they built a solid team with a great attitude and workrate, put together by a very shrewd manager in dyche, so you just never know
1

blue90 added 12:48 - Jul 30 Like this signing, but we need Tilt too. In other news, looks like Celina is on his way to Swansea for between 3 and 4 million...! Similar to the price we paid for Lee Martin..
1

lightingblue added 12:51 - Jul 30 It'll be like club Tropicana. Play with freedom the Paul hurst will say I'm your man.
0

TractorBoyTommy added 12:52 - Jul 30 @hopefulblue you sound like your 12, does your mom know your on this site?? Toxethblue and I are just realists and arent brainwashed/deluded like 90% of the people on. I guarantee if the messiah mick was still at the realm we would be mid table punching above our weight and not in a relegation battle which we will be. All of you on here will be calling for hurst to be sacked by christmas.

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1RWR added 12:55 - Jul 30 TBT: You really are a pillock! League 1 & League 2 players who are hungry & desperate to make their mark are surely better than Championship journeymen...........surely? BTW if you wanted a few Championship ready players.....exactly who are they & where are they? If a Championship team are ready to sell or give away their players to a rival club...........will they be any good? I have my doubts. As long as we're patient, settle for decent, attractive, attacking football, finish mid table, in my eyes, that'll be a good first season under PH. TBT try thinking positively, you never know, you may like what you get out of it!

4

DJ27 added 13:02 - Jul 30 TBT and Toxteth - Everybody including yourselves has a right to an opinion. The issue i have is that your comments are not constructive. You are criticising the new transfer policy, without actually offering a solution. All you are being is negative about signing young league 1 and 2 players. So i'll ask you both the question, given the budget we have, who would you be signing, and don't just say someone with Championship experience, because that is a weak answer. Name names, who would you like to see signed that would make you happy and have a positive comment.

6

JimmyP45 added 13:02 - Jul 30 Shame we can't rival Swansea's bid of £3m for Celina.
-1

ipswich134 added 13:04 - Jul 30 Div 1 or not does not matter. Passion , attacking Football is all I ask for .
1

pragmatic added 13:06 - Jul 30 Real supporters will get behind Hurst & the team irrespective of past managerial errors, which incidentally were not all totally bad, COYB!
3

Ipswichbusiness added 13:06 - Jul 30 Tut, tut 1RWR! You are being so unfair on TractorBoyTimmy! Poor TBT is pining for the days when we signed such superstars as Jay Tabb, Giles Coke and Jonathon Douglas.
0

blue90 added 13:07 - Jul 30 The squad is obviously very thin. That's the biggest concern and if we do find ourselves in a relegation battle the reason will be due to the number of signings we've made this summer rather than the caliber of signings, which i believe to be good regardless of where they played last season. I never know whether TBT is joking on these posts, such a rascal.
1

Taricco_Fan added 13:10 - Jul 30 So much negativity from the usual suspects. This club has always had to sign lower league/unknown players and develop them. Not every signing pays off but look at Mings, Cresswell, Walters for recent examples, signed from Chippenham, Tranmere and Chester.
3

hollywoodginge added 13:13 - Jul 30 Whilst I'm not adverse to finding lower league gems, I am slightly concerned about putting all of our eggs in this basket. I think you need a mixture of experience as well. There are levels to this game, and in my opinion the championship is the toughest second division in the world. One example I will give you is Moore last season at Rotherham. It's a big step up from league 1. I was happy with the performance on Saturday but in many respects I see that as one of our easier games at home this season as West Ham like other premier league teams played football which allows you time on the ball. Championship teams will not! That said I was very impressed with Edwards and Harrison and moreover our youth products to a man. So I'm sure we will be ok, but I would like to see us sign a more experienced centre back as I feel that's what's been lacking since Berra's heart left a year before his body did.

4

hopefulblue added 13:16 - Jul 30 tactor tommy a quick question , name the players you want us to sign to get us up? u know so much about the current transfer market? 12 year olds a pre teen so moan and sulk a lot abit like you really chap. Im sure u will agree all micks 80 odd signings were fantastic, try get your head out of the clouds, we don't have millions to spend on has beans or journey men, we have a 5 point plan which involves playing youth team players and finding lower league gems we can turn a profit on, u seem stuck in the past mate! the clubs moving forward so should you

2

christiand added 13:17 - Jul 30 This is ME's approach for the club, pointless getting frustrated about a lack of a high profile signing by the club, this is ITFC now. It's about getting in those lower league players that have the quality, desire and attitude to prove themselves at a higher level. Yes, there will be a few misses along the way, but we had these previously with seasoned campaigners with plenty of Championship experience too. Lets see what happens, this could prove a real masterstroke.......fingers crossed!!!

0

martin587 added 13:18 - Jul 30 Let's get both of these and Tilt,then I will be very very happy.😊😊
1

CanadianBlue added 13:19 - Jul 30 Does JET not count as a St Lucia player? Eligible from one of his parents.
0

spanishblue added 13:19 - Jul 30 Yes a Warky or Mowbray type character would be good,but now the shackles are off is it possible Chambers can be the old experienced head,as for signing lower league hungry players,my heart goes out to a dam good Irishman who left us because of the sewage in our dressing room a few years back,Shane Supple a man with principle,maybe these lower league boys have got some of that grit

1

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