Town boss Kieran McKenna says the deal to sign Jaden Philogene is not yet complete as far as he’s aware.

The 22-year-old was at the club yesterday and we understand passed his medical with the clubs having agreed a fee of £22 million plus add-ons on Wednesday. The player has agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal.

Asked about the situation, McKenna said: “There’s nothing to say, really. He’s an Aston Villa player first and foremost and there’s no deal or completion, as far as I’m aware at the moment. Until that changes, or if that changes, I’m sure the club will announce.”

Philogene won't now be available for the Blues for Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Bristol Rovers with the deadline for him to have signed today having passed.

Asked whether he expected any ins or outs before the weekend, McKenna said: “You never know. Things can move sometimes a bit quicker than what you expect and sometimes a bit slower than what you expect.

“It's not really where my focus is at the moment. It's on the group, and we've had a good week's training, getting ready not just for Bristol, but we know the turnaround after this game is pretty quick for Brighton and then Man City as well. 

“So we've had a good week's training and a good focus and we're looking forward to Sunday and what's coming up next.”

Regarding the Blues’ interest in 19-year-old Liverpool forward Ben Doak, who is on loan at Middlesbrough, McKenna kept his cards close to his chest.

“No, again a Liverpool player on loan at Middlesbrough, so no comment from us on that.”

Photo: IMAGO/Pro Sports Images via Reuters Connect

bluebullet29l added 14:33 - Jan 10 Here we go again......
15

SickParrot added 14:35 - Jan 10 If fee agreed with Villa, terms agreed with player and medical satisfactory what is holding this up?
8

WaltonBlueNaze added 14:36 - Jan 10 Hopefully, the club will explain in due course what the issue was? Shame he now can’t play on Sunday…..
2

jayceee added 14:38 - Jan 10 If he arrives - I hope he ditches his agent... reflects so badly on him.
20

mow_the_lawn added 14:41 - Jan 10 Shame we can’t get 60-90 mins into him on Sunday now. Unless the deal has been completed by midday but we’re just deliberately not announcing it in case it impacts on another deal that might be happening at the same time.
0

santiagosentme added 14:42 - Jan 10 Patience people. I'm sure it's just dotting i's and crossing the t's.
2

gosblue added 14:43 - Jan 10 Is it dependent on someone leaving before we can sign anyone else? I can't think of another reason.
-1

gsoly added 14:44 - Jan 10 Some very odd comments here. £20m+ deals take time, it's hardly a surprise.
4

blues1 added 14:44 - Jan 10 Jaycee.What? Probably just the legal stuff arounfd the contract thats held it up. Nothing to do with his agent
1

Gforce added 14:45 - Jan 10 Very fishy,maybe they are still deciding how many noughts to put at the end of his salary.
0

Bazza8564 added 14:46 - Jan 10 If hes passed his medical, it can only be bits at the Villa end that are outstanding, i doubt whether Villa would allow the player to agree terms and travel for his medical if it were anything other than a few bits to tie up, but the agent has a bit of an "interesting" reputation so maybe there are bits around that? Either way, I can't see a club of Aston Villa's stature doing anything untoward, Umar made his statement yesterday, perhaps hes just pi88ed the story got leaked again

1

Alphawhiskey added 14:48 - Jan 10 Maybe a double deal? and a player out? Shame, as was hoping to see him play Sunday against Rovers.
0

jayceee added 14:51 - Jan 10 @blues1 - You're probably right - but have been skeptical about this since the last attempt, where his agent did pull a few moves. Felt like we got played then, and although we seem a lot closer now - once bitten and all that. I'll try be a bit more patient - sorry.
2

Bert added 14:52 - Jan 10 Six months to buy a house but a few days to spend millions on a player. Football, at least in the PL, is a funny old business.
2

RaymondovicBlue added 14:57 - Jan 10 Sorry to kick start the negativity... I was trying to joke. But when did the free rise from 20 to 22?
5

Aero added 14:59 - Jan 10 22M plus add ons? I'm sure the deal was 20M plus add ons yesterday.....
7

herfie added 15:07 - Jan 10 Understandable jitters the longer it takes. for any official announcement to be made. We all know there’s many a slip between cup and lip, and nothing will be real until we see him wearing the shirt - and, hopefully, smiling! Just have to remain patient and hold on to the belief!
1

billlm added 15:10 - Jan 10 No one else is paying 22 million +, That's for sure, Just loose ends,
-1

Leejames99 added 15:12 - Jan 10 They have to do pics, videos interviewed, these then need to be edited etc and perhaps there are two coming in, takes time all that, he only arrived yesterday.
2

Suffolkboy added 15:19 - Jan 10 Patience is being tried ! KM stays remarkably ‘cool’ but does have close hand experience of tricky transfer situations . Let’s hope clarity rapidly emerges ! COYB
2

Karlosfandangal added 15:35 - Jan 10 The Fee is £27 million plus add ons plus Wes Burns and KmK car and a KFC bargain bucket. The hold up is 10 pieces or 14
10

Westy added 15:38 - Jan 10 I'll only believe this when it's confirmed bearing in mind what happened last time. Did feel that some were getting ahead of themselves with this, not least whoever updated Wikipedia that described Jaden Philogene, as early as Wednesday of this week, as an Ipswich Town player. Wikipedia has now resorted back to describing him as an Aston Villa player. Really hope this is confirmed in the next few hours.

1

1960H added 15:41 - Jan 10 My BS detector smells something here!
6

RobITFC added 15:56 - Jan 10 Is his agent in Barcelona again ?
8

poet added 15:59 - Jan 10 The bottom line is, none of us know why there’s a holdup. However, if, and I mean if, it’s to do with his agent, I distinctly remember Mark Ashton saying some time ago that he refuses to be bullied and pushed around by players agents. I’d say Mr Ashton could be a tough cookie to deal with, and why not!
19

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls