THE deal to bring Luciano Civelli from Argentinean side Banfield could end up costing Ipswich Town more than �2m in total.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

THE deal to bring Luciano Civelli from Argentinean side Banfield could end up costing Ipswich Town more than �2m in total.

The 22-year-old left sided attacking midfielder completed his move to Ipswich Town last night and will wear the number 13 shirt.

The Blues have paid an initial fee of just short of �1m and the rest would be made up of add-ons including a significant sell on fee.

Town have a caveat in place where they can buy out the sell on clause from Banfield

There is no third party involvement in Civelli's registration process, he is entirely an Ipswich Town player, the only remaining hold Banfield and any Argentinean investor have on the player is the economic rights which is common practice in South America.

The Blues were in constant contact with the FA and Football league during contact negotiations to ensure they didn't fall foul of any regulations and the deal bears no resemblance to the one that landed West ham in so much hot water over Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez, due to a third party influence.

The Pehuaj�-born player, has made 68 games for Banfield, scoring eight goals, since making his debut in 2006 and started out with home town club Estudiantes Unidos de Pehuaj�.

As an Italian passport holder there was never an issue with a work permit and Civelli has a brother, ranato, who plays in France for Marseielle.

Civelli can speak a little English but much of the deal was done through a translator and a mediator used by Town in the past. Horacio Lordes, an Argentine scout who worked with Steve McCall and Simon Hunt during their trip to the American continent, was also involved in the deals that brought Adrian Paz and Mauricio Taricco to Portman in the 1990s.

The rangy player, he is around 6'1'', completed his medical on Tuesday and is due to train with the first team today and is expected to be named in the squad that entertain Plymouth Argyle on Saturday. Town will decide tomorrow how involved he will be although it is probable he will start on the bench and play a fuller role next week at Swansea.

Town trialist Lino Concalves over from the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Spain, played in a behind closed doors friendly yesterday with Dan Harding scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over West Ham.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk