No players will be moving in or out of Town before tonight’s 11pm deadline, however, free agent former Manchester United centre-half Axel Tuanzebe will be joining the Blues on trial.

Town have been looking to add another central defender to their ranks ahead of the window closing this evening.

However, with Tuanzebe a free agent having been released by United in May, a deal can be done outside the transfer window. Claims on social media that the player, who was at Portman Road today, was close to signing but had an issue with a Town medical are wide of the mark.

Manager Kieran McKenna knows Tuanzebe from their time at Old Trafford together and will now run the rule over him during the international break before making a decision on whether to add the 25-year-old to his squad.

Former England U19, U20 and U21 international Tuanzebe, who has been linked with the Blues throughout the transfer window, has been training with Premier League new boys Luton Town recently but was unable to agree terms on a deal, despite impressing.

Congo DR-born Tuanzebe moved to the UK aged four and came through the ranks at the Red Devils’ academy.

The 6ft 1in tall defender made his United debut in the FA Cup in January 2017 and went on to make 21 starts and 15 sub appearances for United without scoring.

While at United, he had three spells on loan at Aston Villa and further stints at Napoli, where he played only two games, and in the second half of last season Stoke City, making four starts and one sub appearance, having been hampered by injury.

In addition to the trial spell with Luton and links with the Blues, Tuanzebe has also been mentioned in connection with moves to another of the newly-promoted Premier League clubs, Sheffield United, and Saudi Arabia.

Speaking earlier today, manager McKenna said there might be one more exit before the window closed, which is understood to have been Elkan Baggott moving out on loan, almost certainly to Blackpool.

However, with no senior centre-half lined up before the deadline, the Indonesia international will now be remaining at Town until January at least.

The transfer window will close with the Blues having signed six players, Jack Taylor, Cieran Slicker, George Hirst and loan trio Omari Hutchinson, Brandon Williams and Dane Scarlett.

Town have 25 players who qualify for the 25-man EFL squad which would become 26 with Tuanzebe but with fourth-choice keeper Nick Hayes likely to be left out and then perhaps loaned to a Vanarama National League side at some stage.

Deadline day passed with Kyle Edwards's loan switch to Oxford United the only business.

Photo: SIPA USA

Stato added 22:46 - Sep 1 Ashton promised 4 first team players and we got none. Yet as always the happy clappy Belgrade led by blues1 and bazza and co are going wild with excitement for a mid table finish. Jokes
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Pezzer added 22:47 - Sep 1 Worse thing would be to make signings for the sake of it and to affect the team chemistry negatively. Hopefully Williams and Scarlett, who McK clearly rates, will improve the squad.
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dirtydingusmagee added 22:55 - Sep 1 Bossman, name the players you would have hoped to sign ! lets see where we have failed / been let down .
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foreverthebeat added 22:57 - Sep 1 Kieron know what he wants and trust him or judge him in January 9 from 12 unbelievable tomorrow 12 from 15 did any of us really think this is where we could be
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the_beat added 23:06 - Sep 1 Reading this just endorses my views that we have some of the most fickle supporters in the land.
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BlueInBerks added 23:33 - Sep 1 If indeed it is the case, I like the idea of Ashton refusing to be held to ransom for silly money, just because clubs know our owners have deep pockets. We are building and I for one love the foundations that have been dug over the last 2 yrs.
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itfckenty added 23:44 - Sep 1 Some people are mental on here. Promotion last year and expectations are through the roof. "Excitement for a mid table finish" not excited but realistic... Support the team and club and stop being so pessimistic. I sure hope these lads prove you naysayers wrong. In McK we trust. COYB
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joyousblue added 23:54 - Sep 1 Im amazed bossman even writes , must be hard when you have only particles of a brain
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Gforce added 23:58 - Sep 1 My question is ,is this Axel bloke any good ???
0

Oldozblue added 00:54 - Sep 2 The question for me is how much are Game Changer prepared to invest? did they underestimate Championsionship fees. EADT pushed the line Ipswich now a financial powerhouse. As they are in it to make a profit (they are a pension fund after all) and if so is reality dawning for them.
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bobble added 00:55 - Sep 2 the evidence so far states we are good enough to come top
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StockholmDave added 02:10 - Sep 2 Only 27 players signed in the whole division today, the majority of which were on loan. The only big money signings were by the clubs relegated from the Premier League last season. We got 3 excellent loan signings in addition to Hirst and Luongo, during the whole window, and maybe a freebie if the trial works out. Having a settled squad and obvious first team not in our favour either as anyone signing knows they will be on the bench.

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shakytown added 02:37 - Sep 2 Better to wait and sign the right players than just signing for the sake of it.
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FrankMarshall added 03:14 - Sep 2 We need to offer Tuanzebe a contract before somebody else does.
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PhuketPete added 03:23 - Sep 2 It’s been a very good if not great window in many ways and only those with excessive expectations would think otherwise. Remember the big picture here isn’t instant gratification and the EPL at any cost. MA is leading a club but also building a sustainable long term business. No offence to Luton et al but we don’t want to be cannon fodder or a bouncy yo-yo between the EPL and the FL. We already have a competitive squad and the window has strengthened us. I’m sure if we’re around the top 6 at New Year, we’ll see further movement to support a promo push. If that doesn’t work then we’ll see further strengthening next summer. It’s a long distance race to get up and stay up.. not a sprint.

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PhuketPete added 03:41 - Sep 2 And I don’t think it’s been said above but personally I’m really happy that Cam and Elkan remain at PR after the window closed. Both will continue to blossom under KM and our terrific coaches more than being on loan to some side that plays totally different football. What greater evidence do we need than to note how much Elkan improved in just 4-6 weeks since his first shaky pre season friendly. And Cam has scored already. If either of them need more minutes in a first team then January is a better option.

8

oldtimer3 added 06:23 - Sep 2 I have a lot of faith with Ashton, Town can't afford to spend silly money on players. We have a good squad and brilliant young manager. I remember when George Burley was allowed to spend silly money by Chairman Sheepshanks on players when he was managed here. We got relegated and went in administration. We nearly didn't have a Ipswich Town Football Club! Now they name a bar after Burley. Anyway onwards and upwards.

1

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:29 - Sep 2 My first reaction was that it was a little disappointing we hadn't come up with an experienced striker and centre back. But on calmer reflection, I understand the difficulties in doing this, but also I think that we have actually done ok. Scarlett could well provide extra directness up front, and Williams should also settle in to become a reliable option at this level. We also have Hutchinson, who certainly has talent. As regards Tuanzebe, he could be a really strong addition. The only thing that worries me there is that he failed to agree terms with a PL club, albeit a weak one. Does this young man expect too much, or will K McK be able to persuade him money isn't everything and a spell at ITFC would be a great step for his rehabilitation? Jury is out. Finally, I do also agree with those who say that too many additions could disrupt the squad mentality. The main thing is we continue our measured approach under our excellent leadership. So now I feel much better about this window (and there's always January!)

7

blueboy1981 added 06:52 - Sep 2 No, Dingus - Expected, after all, we’re IPSWICH …. !! So no surprise - now let’s see how we fair, shall we ?
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blueboy1981 added 07:01 - Sep 2 Oldozblue ….. I think you may have ‘nailed it’ with that post of yours !
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Saxonblue74 added 07:16 - Sep 2 Get a grip people.9 from 12 in the league and 2 Cup wins, anyone out there who wouldn't have taken that before we kicked a ball? And how has Ashton gone from hero to zero with some? Our squad is strong, with potentially our new centre back currently on trial. What were you expecting, "Demolition Man 2 the sequal"?
5

Dissboyitfc added 07:20 - Sep 2 Says Blueboy the most deluded of all posters!!! Let’s remind you of some of your deluded comments from last season. Piggot will be a better player under Cowley and come the end of the season we would regret it! He wasnt and we didn’t! You also stated that the recruitment policy at Ipswich wasn’t good enough to get us promoted! It was and we were! You also said that he had been found and was it around feb/march time you stated that McKennas position was under under threat! You called anybody who enjoyed last season a happy clapper, those of us who knew something good was coming were right to enjoy the last campaign You were covered in egg, hardly a football genius you looked very foolish at the seasons end! 6 played 5 won, I will take that!

7

cressi added 07:41 - Sep 2 As fans I guess we all want that Stella signing, But as you wake up the morning after and see that lot up the road have lost their centre forward injured and sold their centre half and got nobody in it don't feel so bad. Burgess has improved beyond what anybody thought possible and Edmondson and Baggott to cover its not bad from where we were a while back.
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SpiritOfJohn added 07:50 - Sep 2 Reality check for some on here. We are owned by a responsible US pension fund not a Saudi slush fund. Current market prices mean we can't afford to buy a centre half off the shelf who is better than what we already have. The good news is we have kept hold of everyone that KM wanted to keep, because they are happy here and enjoying their football. If we were sensible we would be enjoying it too.

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Europablue added 08:04 - Sep 2 It seems like a few people are confused about the window and transfer deadline day. Although Hirst played in our first team last season, he wasn't our player and without signing for us, would have been lost to the team. Signing Hirst may not feel like an improvement to the team, but it really is because the point of comparison would have been a team without him. The buying market just seems really bad for us this season. I wonder if it might be easier to buy players in January when Premier League teams know whether they really want to keep fringe players. KM will work well with the three young loan players. Hutchinson has already shown some better decision making and end product. Unfortunately, these loan players seem more like the types that will do the parent clubs a favour, but will not sign for us as they will be out of our league unless we get promoted.

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