IPSWICH Town have once again launched a bid to sign Cardiff City’s hot-shot striker, Michael Chopra.

Former Town boss Roy Keane tried and failed to lure Chopra away from the Welsh club 12 months ago, and the absence of a proven goalscorer went on to cost the Suffolk club dear last season.

Now Keane’s successor, Paul Jewell, is looking to succeed where the Irishman failed as he tries to secure the services of a regular goalscorer for next term.

It’s still early days, but Town were yesterday believed to have lodged a bid to sign Chopra from managerless Cardiff – former boss Dave Jones was sacked after the Bluebirds were dumped out of the play-offs at the semi-final stage by Reading.

Chopra has not been Town’s No. 1 striker target, because last month they had a well-publicised �2.3m bid for Doncaster Rovers front-runner Billy Sharp turned down.

The Portman Road club could well return with an improved offer for Sharp later this summer, if their audacious bid to sign Chopra again fails. His contract expires at the end of next season.

Town were linked with a cut-price �1m move for Chopra only a few weeks ago, but yesterday’s bid seems to have been a formal approach.

Last summer, Town had bids of �3m and above turned down for the striker. Town desperately needed a natural goalscorer, if they are to stand a chance of pushing for promotion.

Departed midfielder David Norris (11 goals) top scored last season.

Connor Wickham weighed in with nine goals following the turn of the year, but Jewell would like a partner for the teenager, especially as Jason Scotland and Tamas Priskin failed to live up to expectations last term.