Town's French winger Ulrich Le Pen has been in talks regarding a move to Guingamp back in his native country. Le Pen is currently on loan at Racing Club de Strasbourg who are also keen on signing him permanently but are short of cash.

The 29-year-old recently met with Guingamp coach Bertrand Marchand and says he has been offered a deal by the Brittany club: "He proposed a contract. On one side, I know Racing want to keep me, but nobody is sure about the future situation of the club. I want to make a decision very soon."

Racing have just been taken over and, although they want to keep Le Pen, they may not be able to afford to pay Town a fee and have already said that he would have to take a cut in wages in order to stay. In addition, manager Ivan Hasek is leaving the club at the end of the season to return to the Czech Republic with a previous boss, Gilber Gress, likely to return to the Alsace club.

Le Pen, who missed Saturday's 3-2 away win at Rennes due to injury, says that although he is happy with Strasbourg, he isn't too bothered where he plays, other than reiterating that he definitely doesn't want to return to Town.

The Frenchman joined the Blues from another Brittany Club, Lorient, in November 2001 for a fee thought to be around the £1.4 million mark. His time at Portman Road saw him make just three appearances, all as sub, in a period he spent largely on the sidelines with a variety of injuries.

Last summer he joined Strasbourg for a year's loan with Town still paying a small percentage of his wages. Blues' chairman David Sheepshanks recently confirmed to TWTD that the club still hope to get a fee for the misfit signing and that Strasbourg and one other French club were showing interest in him.

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