SENEGALESE defender, Habib Beye, looks set to turn down an offer to join Ipswich Town on loan.

SENEGALESE defender, Habib Beye, looks set to turn down an offer to join Ipswich Town on loan.

Instead, it appears as though Beye will be staying at Aston Villa to fight for his place, rather than go out on loan to the in-form Championship outfit.

It was hoped that experienced right-back Beye would complete the loan move from Villa Park to Portman Road, before tomorrow’s home game against Hull City, even though the 33-year-old was not expected to be in the starting XI.

Town boss Paul Jewell will not be making any changes to his team just for the sake of it, hardly surprising when considered that his current squad masterminded a wonderful 6-0 win at Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night.

There was always going to be just one change, regardless of whether or not Beye signed for Town - midfielder Jimmy Bullard, on loan from Hull, is not allowed to play against his parent club.

New recruit Andy Drury, signed from Luton Town before the transfer window for permanent signings closed, could be handed his first start in the Football League, in the absence of Bullard, although Jaime Peters and Luke Hyam are also possibilities.

Beye would have been a welcome addition to Town’s squad, not least because he has been playing in the Premier League in recent seasons.

And speaking at yesterday morning’s Portman Road press conference, Jewell had been hopeful of landing Beye on a loan deal for the rest of the season.

He had said: “We are trying to bring a couple of players into the squad, as I have been since I’ve been here.

“And I know the question you are going to ask. Habib Beye has been mentioned, and I’ve spoken to Aston Villa. That’s something that I am trying to do to improve the squad.

“But there has been no news yet. We’re looking at all areas to try and improve. We are trying to bolster what we’ve got here.

“Beye is a good player, and one who can play in a number of positions. He would give us another option.

“We’re hoping he comes (this week). I know that he was in France yesterday. I have spoken to Paul Faulkner, the Chief Executive of Aston Villa. We are trying to do it.

“But I haven’t heard anything since yesterday,” added Jewell.

Beye moved to Newcastle United in a �2m deal during the summer of 2007, from France. He made 52 league appearances for the Magpies, before switching to Aston Villa.

But he has only made nine league appearances for Villa, and has not featured at all since their Carling Cup win over Burnley last October.