Cardiff striker Alan Lee is set to sign a contract with the Blues later today. Town have agreed a fee with the Bluebirds believed to be in the region of £100,000 as well as personal terms with the Ireland international.

Boss Joe Royle said: "Alan will hopefully be signing today.

"Everything has been agreed with the player and Cardiff and he will have a look around the place and undergo a medical.

"We've been after bringing in a striker for a while and Alan will provide us with a physical presence that we need.

"We have missed that target man type player since Sam Parkin was injured and Alan can also score goals, something else we have been lacking lately.

"He didn't have the best of times while he was at Cardiff, but at Rotherham he had a goal return of one in three games and he certainly caused Ipswich problems when he came up against the club.

"He's a player who could play alongside any of the strikers we have at the club at the moment and can also help bring the younger players on as well.

"Of course, he is also a full international with the Republic of Ireland and we're delighted that he is on his way to Portman Road."

Lee, who had 18 months left on his Cardiff deal, joined the Bluebirds in August 2003 for a fee of £850,000 which rose by another £50,000 after a set number of appearances.

Chris O'Brien from Cardiff Rivals site CCFCSleepingGiant.com told TWTD that Lee didn't impress at Ninian Park: "He is a traditional forward, decent at holding the ball up and poaches goals in the six-yard box.

"However, he failed to match the £900,000 the club splashed out to Rotherham, where he enjoyed the most successful spell of his career. He has netted ten league goals for the club since his move in 2003, but has struggled to get a string of games in the team and his career is now something of a contrast to the hero status he enjoyed at Millmoor.

"He could do well with Ipswich if Joe Royle can get his confidence back, but I do not see Lee as a player who will be leading your attack for seasons to come, although I wish him luck for the future."

The 27-year-old started his career with Aston Villa and spent time on loan at Torquay United and Port Vale during his spell at Villa Park. The Galway-born frontman joined Burnley in July 1999 for £200,000, scoring one goal in four starts and 16 substitute appearances, Joe Royle first catching him in action at this stage of his career.

Just over a year later he moved to Rotherham for £150,000, after a successful loan spell, where his 41 goals in 115 starts (plus seven appearances from the bench) led to his move to Cardiff, with Norwich City also making a bid.

A regular with the Irish U21s as a youngster, Lee won the first of his seven full caps against Norway at Lansdowne Road in April 2003 but is yet to score an international goal. His most recent cap came against Cyprus in September 2004.

Photo: Action Images

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