Monaco central midfielder Jimmy Juan will be joining Town on loan until the end of the season. Juan, 21, was on trial with the Blues last week and impressed manager Joe Royle.

Town recently agreed a tie-in with the Champions League side, which has seen Academy director Bryan Klug travel to the principality and a Monaco coach spend time working with Town youngsters last week.

Boss Royle told the club site: "The chairman has been in touch with Monaco and they have agreed to let Jimmy stay with us until the end of the season.

"He will be coming back to us either tomorrow or Wednesday and train from there."

The 6ft central midfielder has spent his entire career with Monaco after coming through their youth system, but has made very few senior appearances.

In 2002/03 he made two, a season later just one, although he was on the bench on a number of occasions during their run to the Champions League final.

This season Juan has played four games, all as a substitute, three in Le Championnat and one in the Champions League.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls