JASON Koumas could be the man to fill the boots vacated by Jimmy Bullard.

JASON Koumas could be the man to fill the boots vacated by Jimmy Bullard.

While Bullard looks a good bet, or even a shoe-in, to join newly-promoted QPR, fellow midfield playmaker Koumas is being lined up as a possible replacement at Portman Road.

Ipswich Town boss Paul Jewell needs to bolster his midfield, particularly in the creativity stakes, following the departure of skipper David Norris to Portsmouth, and also Bullard’s return to Hull City at the end of his successful loan spell with Town.

While Jewell has all but given up hope of signing Bullard again, even though the 32-year-old is keen to secure a seven-figure pay-out to end his Hull City nightmare, and so become a free agent, the prospect of signing Koumas is an exciting one.

Jewell has had no qualms with recruiting players of aging years, or with vast experience (depending on which way you look at!), following the summer arrivals of Ivar Ingimarsson (33), Michael Chopra (27) and Nathan Ellington (30 next month).

Now Koumas, 31, could become Town’s fourth summer signing, with Town leading the chase to sign the ex-Welsh international along with Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls are ambitious, and their manager Gary Megson signed Koumas from Tranmere Rovers for �2.25m when the boss at West Brom in 2002, so there is a strong link.

However, the player himself might not fancy a drop down into League One, and that might just give Town the edge.

Koumas, like Town’s last signing Nathan Ellington, has seen his career stutter over the last four years.

While front-runner Ellington failed to produce the goods at Watford, following his big-money move in 2007, so midfield maestro Koumas struggled to hold down a regular place at Premier League Wigan Athletic.

In all, he started just 32 games in the top flight for the Latics over the last four seasons, and made 54 league appearances overall.

Furthermore, just as Ellington, signed on a free transfer by Town on Tuesday, spent time on loan in the Championship at the likes of Derby and Preston, so Koumas graced the second tier with top-six club Cardiff City last term.

Jewell seems to favour big-name players who are often deemed to be past their best, as Bullard was labelled before his January arrival from Humberside.

Such players can be worth their weight in gold in a promotion push.

n Do you think Koumas would be a suitable replacement for Bullard, in Town’s central midfield next season? E-mail your views to sport@eadt.co.uk