IPSWICH Town are closing in on their second signing after agreeing terms with a player.The Blues are staying tight-lipped about the identity of the player until the deal is sealed but he is an international midfielder playing abroad.

Derek Davis

IPSWICH Town are closing in on their second signing after agreeing terms with a player.

The Blues are staying tight-lipped about the identity of the player until the deal is sealed but he is an international midfielder playing abroad.

Ipswich chairman David Sheepshanks announced that Town were close to securing the new player at the club's PLC board AGM at Portman Road last night.

He later added: “We are very nearly there. We have agreed terms with the player and we have met with the club's valuation so we think we are there but these things are never done until we get the confirmation back.”

Although Town are still interested in David Norris at Plymouth and have made an improved offer for Leicester City's Gareth McAuley neither are close to joining at the moment.

McAuley played for the Foxes in their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace last night, while Norris stayed behind last night as Argyle flew up from Newquay to Stansted to take on an Ipswich side unbeaten at home since last March.

Sheepshanks said: “Norris is under contract and he is a player we want but we are not going to wait forever and we have other options.”

Magilton is looking for his side to take advantage of a Plymouth side who put up a gallant fight at Fratton Park before closing to Portsmouth in the FA Cup.

He said: “Steve McCall watched them and Plymouth played very well. There is a lot of mental and physical pressure on them so hopefully we will get them at a good time. There is a lot of travelling but we know they are a good side and can hurt us. Certainly they gave Portsmouth all sorts of problems

Norris was left out following the intense scrutiny surrounding the future of a player who has made it clear he wants to leave Home Park.

Ipswich have had two bids, the latest at around £1.75million, rejected by Plymouth who are holding out for £2m for the midfielder.

Magilton said: “Both clubs have gone about their business in the correct manner. At the end of the day, Plymouth want to keep hold of a very good player and we want to get hold of a very good player. Paul Sturrock has come out and said that he wants to keep him and I would want to keep him too.”

Argyle boss Sturrock felt he had no choice, but leave an unsettled Norris behind. He said: “Disappointingly, there has been a lot of media coverage from a team that is interested in David.

“He would not be mentally attuned to the tussle and it would not be fair of me to allow people to put the microscope on him.”