ROY Keane is homing in on a new loan player, and he is hopeful of landing his target next week.

The player is currently on the books of a Premier League club, and is believed to be a midfielder.

Keane was initially frustrated by the financial constraints, laid down by owner Marcus Evans, that only permitted him to sign striker Jason Scotland in the final week of the transfer window for permanent signings.

But the Ipswich Town boss is now only looking to add one further player to his squad, on the current loan market.

“We’re still looking, and I think there is a good chance that we might add one player next week,” revealed Keane.

“We are in discussions with a club and we’re hoping that might happen during the course of next week, but we’ll see.

“Like a lot of Championship clubs, we’ll all be looking at Premiership clubs and what players might not be getting games, and might fancy coming to the Championship, particularly the younger players.

“We were very lucky last year, with players like Jack Colback, who was outstanding for us.

“You’re always on the look-out. It’s all fairly positive at the moment and maybe something might happen next week.

“The player is from the Premier League. We’re only talking about one, because we are OK for numbers.

“There’s one area of the club that needs strengthening, and that’s the player we are after to give the players some competition in that position.

“Simon (Clegg, Chief Executive) has spoken to one of their staff at the club,” added Keane.

Town are blessed with options in the goalkeeping, central defensive and strike-force positions, but they do seem a bit light in both central midfield and right-back.

Grant Leadbitter and David Norris are the regular partners in the middle of the park, with teenager Luke Hyam operating in a holding role, but there is precious little in the way of back-up, with the exception of Colin Healy.

Likewise, Jaime Peters has been converted into the regular right-back this term, following the summer departures of David Wright, Liam Rosenior and Alex Bruce. However, Troy Brown can also play in this role, so it is more likely that Keane is chasing an extra midfielder.

Furthermore, the return from injury of Connor Wickham, Damien Delaney, Mark Kennedy and Luciano Civelli, over the coming weeks, will add to the cover up front, across the defence and in wide areas.

Last term, midfielder Colback scooped Town’s player-of-the-year award following a successful season-long loan spell from Sunderland.

Keane would no doubt love to re-sign Colback on another loan deal, but the 20-year-old is currently in manager Steve Bruce’s plans, having been on the substitutes’ bench for the last three matches.