PAUL Jewell has a dilemma over whether to pursue his interest of Doncaster Rovers defender George Friend.

The League One side have already had a �250,000 bid accepted by Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest are also said to be interested with new boss Sean O’Driscoll keen to link up with his former left-sided defender.

But while Ipswich are keen on a move for the 24-year-old, we understand Jewell will only push ahead with a deal if Aston Villa target Aaron Cresswell is sold.

The Green Un yesterday revealed that Friend was on the radar of the Blues boss at the same time as Villa showed interest in Cresswell and Damien Delaney was linked with a move to Nottingham Forest.

Friend can play centre-back or left-back but with Jewell rebuffing the Delaney rumour, it seems as if he has been identified as a replacement for Cresswell, should Villa step up their interest.

But while Jewell waits to see the next move from Paul Lambert, who became aware of Cresswell’s emergence while manager of arch rivals Norwich City, Friend will want to decide his own future sooner rather than later.

Reports on Teesside suggest Boro boss Tony Mowbray is likely to distance himself from a move rather than become embroiled in a bidding war.

* For more on this story, see tomorrow’s Ipswich Star and EADT – and keep checking www.greenun24.co.uk