RANGERS duo Nacho Novo and Gavin Rae are among the latest crop of names being linked with Ipswich Town.Neither are likely to be on the Blues radar even if new Gers boss Paul Le Guen decides they do not play a part in his plans, with wages proving a stumbling block for the Championship club.

By Derek Davis

RANGERS duo Nacho Novo and Gavin Rae are among the latest crop of names being linked with Ipswich Town.

Neither are likely to be on the Blues radar even if new Gers boss Paul Le Guen decides they do not play a part in his plans, with wages proving a stumbling block for the Championship club.

Tottenham wide-man Mark Yeates is another player who is supposedly on the Blues shopping list but it is more likely he will once again link up with Phil Parkinson at Hull City after playing for him on loan at Colchester United last season.

Although Parkinson is not allowed to recruit any U's players for a year as part of the deal agreed between the two clubs, Yeates is a Spurs employee.

With Town's share issue closing tomorrow, and the funds raised being made available to him, Blues boss Jim Magilton will be desperate to make sure he lands the right man.

Matt Oakley is the sort of player he wants to sign but the Saints midfielder, who has missed most of the last 18 months with injury, is looking for a two-year deal at least and his wage demands could be too expensive for Town.

Oakley turned down a one-year contract offered by Saints boss George Burley, who last night landed Manchester City striker Bradley Wright-Phillips for £1m.

Although it has been mainly midfielders linked, Magilton will also look to strengthen his defence, with new chief scout Steve McCall on the trail of a couple of potential recruits.

Depending on what deal can be struck, Magilton could supplement his big signing with any one of the trialists who are at Portman Road now or about to be given a look.

The Irishman has missed out on landing a Premiership youngster but again that will be an avenue he will look to tap into, for the right money.

Trying to land a Premiership player on loan is going to be harder this season, with the top-flight sides not starting their season until almost three weeks after the Football League.

With a number of Premiership stars involved in the World Cup very few of the top teams have yet returned for pre-season training, never mind played any friendlies or started to trim squads. Young players hoping to break into the first team will not want to be considered for a loan term anywhere else until well into August and managers will be reluctant to let anyone out unless they are certain they do not have a future at that club.

The Blues will continue to bring in trialists who have already been released from clubs and three such hopefuls will be looking to impress at Boston United on Saturday.

Colin Healy, who Motherwell are also interested in signing, Eugen Bopp from Nottingham Forest and former Le Havre midfielder Alexis Bertin are all expected to play a part.

Town trained at RAF Wattisham yesterday as part of their pre-season build-up, taking part in team bonding and leadership exercises.

Prolific young Blues striker Jordan Rhodes has followed Jack Ainsley by getting a call-up for the England Under-17s squad to play in the Nordic Tournament, starting later this month.