Town are closing in on the completion of the loan signing of Reims central defender Cédric Kipré, TWTD understands, with that deal more advanced than the move for Rennes midfielder Azor Matusiwa as it stands.

Yesterday, reports from France revealed the Blues had made an approach for ex-West Brom, Wigan and Cardiff man Kipré with the 28-year-old set to sign on loan with the deal reportedly including a mandatory option for a €4.5 million (£3.9 million) permanent switch should the Blues return to the Premier League in the campaign ahead.

That deal looks set to be completed within the next 24 hours, perhaps as soon as today with Kipré understood to have been expected at the club this afternoon.

As things are presently, the permanent Matusiwa move is behind the Kipré loan with the player not believed to be travelling to Suffolk today.

A fee has been agreed between the clubs, understood to be €9 million (£7.8 million) rather than the higher figure being reported in France but with personal terms still to be agreed.

Rennes manager Habib Beye, who previously had told former Netherlands U21 international he was unable to guarantee him playing time, confirmed after his side's friendly that “Matusiwa is on his way out”.

Kipré has spent much of his career in England, joining Leicester City as a young player from PSG in 2014 and having had spells with Wigan, West Brom and at Cardiff on loan.

He joined Reims from the Baggies last summer, signing a deal to the summer of 2027, but is now, according to L’Equipe, set to join the Blues on loan for the season with a mandatory option for a €4.5 million (£3.9 million) permanent switch should the Blues return to the Premier League in the campaign ahead.

Paris-born Kipré is right-footed but often operates at left centre-half and has also played at right-back.

The 6ft 4in tall defender made his international debut for the Ivory Coast, for whom he qualifies via his parents, in June having previously played for their U23s.

While at Leicester, for whom he failed to make a senior appearance, he spent time on loan in non-league with Corby Town, before a stint in Scotland with Motherwell.

During his time as a West Brom player, where he spent four years, he had a spell on loan in Belgium with Charleroi.

Town are in the market for a central defender this summer with Cameron Burgess and Axel Tuanzebe having left on free transfers to join Swansea City and Burnley respectively.

Photo: D.Nakashima/AFLO via Reuters Connect

Dissboyitfc added 16:15 - Jul 10 Then there was 2
0

algarvefan added 16:36 - Jul 10 I'm still a little underwhelmed by this, I hope I'm wrong but his CV is not exactly thrilling? Is he any better than the defenders we already have? I'd also like to see Baggot get a run out pre-season.
3

Tampa_Florida_Blue added 17:15 - Jul 10 It all going crazy here now. No possible signings for months and now 2 getting very close together on the same day. Liking we are now looking abroad. Having seen neither play I can’t comment but in K. Mck I trust
6

pablo123 added 17:17 - Jul 10 Wow , hardly gets the fans buzzing with these 2
-10

Marcus added 17:17 - Jul 10 Are the new sponsors London Buses? :)
1

TimmyH added 17:18 - Jul 10 hhmmm...not sure with this signing but we'll see.
3

muhrensleftfoot added 17:19 - Jul 10 It’s a strange signing. 28 years old and not exactly had a glorious career. We don’t need anyone at right centre half with OShea and Woolfie there, so it can only be cover for Greaves, even though this guy is right footed. Clearly McK doesn’t think Baggott is adequate cover for Greaves, which is a pity as he has come thru our academy. Furthermore if we get promoted we are contracted to sign him permanently, even though he’s not played PL before other than a small number of sub appearances.

2

Lightningboy added 17:22 - Jul 10 And we let Burgess leave...I know which i'd prefer here.
7

Lukeybluey added 17:28 - Jul 10 I think he was pretty solid when at West Brom... I'm interested to see whether he'll be a starter though... I'd imagine Greaves and O'Shea are going to be starters at CB... Unless he'll play the "hybrid" Right back CB role like what Tuanzebe done..? Who Knows!
0

Runner added 17:32 - Jul 10 We didn't let burgess leave, he ran down his contract then choose a better deal elsewhere. He was allowed to do that in a free country, he was not someone's slave.
3

Gilesy added 17:36 - Jul 10 We've been underwhelmed by signings in the past haven't we; Luongo, Aluko, Mings...Harbey.
5

Linkboy13 added 17:39 - Jul 10 We haven't got to buy Kipre if we are promoted it's an option and he's clearly not Premier league standard so it won't be happening. It's good to see we are shopping for players on the continent where the prices for players in general are not over inflated. I think we've learnt our lessons paying well over the odds for championship players. McKenna doesn't think Baggott is up to the job and i tend to agree with him he's hardly pulled up any trees in league one and he's not going to give him a run out just to keep the fans happy. Cameron Humphreys is a different matter he was outstanding for Wycombe last year im not saying he's first team quality but he has earned the right to come under the radar in pre season. McKenna and his coaching staff work with these players day in day out and they know if they are physically and technically up to the task of playing in the championship.

5

Blue_Heath added 17:48 - Jul 10 Any chance we are going 3 at the back, otherwise I don't see who misses out?
0

Fermi_Parradox added 17:54 - Jul 10 I think these clauses can be a little misleading. A mandatory purchase could mean that the buying club has the option to bid £4.9M and the selling club has to accept. Or it could mean, the buying club has to purchase the player for £3.9M, and in that case the player and club will of had to agree personal terms prior to the loan. Remember Sarmiento was a 2 year loan if we got promoted.... Obviously we had the option to opt out of that. Although I would sign him, just for the memories.

1

BeattiesBackPocket added 17:57 - Jul 10 Algarvefan so what did Delap do before coming here? Burns? I remember plenty moaning about Delap never having scored many in the championship or about Hirst not being able to score in the championship blah blah. Then you talk about Baggot who yeah I’m hoping makes the step up but again what’s his cv compared to this guy at least this guys had a few seasons in the championship and now top french league. Come on don’t contradict yourself

3

BeattiesBackPocket added 17:58 - Jul 10 Runner sorry fat thumbs pressed you down meant to be up. And bravo just some people want to see more in something or someone leaving
1

ipswichboi added 18:52 - Jul 10 I'm keen
1

Skip73 added 18:57 - Jul 10 People were moaning that we hadn't signed anyone, now 2 looking close and they still moan that they arent who they wanted. Give them a chance.
7

Dug added 19:01 - Jul 10 I think we mustn’t forget that we are in the championship this season and NOT the premier league, attracting premiership players to drop a division and play for us is frankly out of the question. This signing is just a back up player we can use in cup competitions etc, he is a physical presence so for tougher matches he could prove very useful. I am still hopeful we can sign a top class striker very soon.COYB.

0

Edmundo added 19:15 - Jul 10 Two players from abroad: got to be a mystery in most cases, as who really follows Ligue 1? Could be the start of us mining a rich seam of France-based players. What's not to like?
0

timkatieadamitfc added 19:16 - Jul 10 @Skip73 don’t think anyone moaning at the midfielder as pretty much everyone saying (respectfully) that they haven’t heard of him, so he should be given a fair crack of the whip. Kipre on the other hand is a different matter, couldn’t break into Leicester team, didn’t do much at West Brom and has largely gone on frees, that tells me everything I need to know about him, most underwhelming signing, bring on the midfielder though €18.5m fee paid so you would hope he’d be ok. Two words for all the ones posting on other sites asking isn’t he too small - ngolo kante.

1

ArnieM added 20:53 - Jul 10 How many players have Brighton or Brentford signed tgst went on to be very good signings, yet prior to them signing little was known about them? Its about bringing in players with s bit more muscle to deal with the combative Championship (where we often struggled against more physical teams), on the hope we achueve a quick return to the PL at the end of this season.... it's horses for courses, a means to an end.

1

Lightningboy added 21:09 - Jul 10 ^ calm down @runner. Amazed you didn't type that in upper case.
0

TimmyH added 21:29 - Jul 10 Did Burgess 'run' down his contract or was it oversight from the club that didn't extend his contract last summer?...based on the fact we would be spending money on signing 'better' players i.e. Greaves, O'Shea etc.
0

DeliasMashedPotato added 21:48 - Jul 10 For those in doubt.. this lad won player's player of the year and supporters player of the year in his last season for WBA in what was a decent squad.
2

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls