IPSWICH Town are on the verge of signing creative midfielder Massimo Luongo on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspurs.

The 19-year-old Australian played in a friendly for Spurs development squad against Italian side Calsio Como on Saturday and is due to arrive at Portman Road over the next couple of days to complete his move.

The Sydney-born teenager started out his career playing for APIA Leichhardt Tigers in his homeland before joining the Premier League outfit in January this year after impressing on trial.

Described as a creative central midfielder, the 5ft 9in youngster scored three goals in nine appearances for Tottenham’s Under-18 team last season.

He made one appearance for the first team under Harry Redknapp, coming on as a substitute in a League Cup game against Stoke and missing the crucial spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out.

Still eligible to represent either the Australian national football team, Italy (father) or Indonesia (mother), he has represented the Australian Under-20 team on two occasions and has been called up for training camps in Europe with the full senior national team.

Town have strong links with Tottenham. Manager Paul Jewell said recently that he has regular contact with Spurs coach Tim Sherwood, while returning academy director Bryan Klug has spent the last two years working within the north London club’s youth set-up.

The Blues have also played a number of youth and reserve team games against the Premier League club in recent years, while Andros Townsend and Jake Livermore have both been on loan.

Luongo will become Jewell’s fourth summer signing following the acquisition of right-back Elliott Hewitt (Macclesfield, �150k), centre-back Luke Chambers (Nottingham Forest, free) and keeper Scott Loach (Watford, �150k).