BLUES boss Joe Royle has been linked with a move for Manchester City's longest serving player Gerard Wiekens.Royle signed Wiekens for £500,000 from Dutch Second Division outfit Veendam in 1997.

BLUES boss Joe Royle has been linked with a move for Manchester City's longest serving player Gerard Wiekens, writes Derek Davis.

Royle signed Wiekens for £500,000 from Dutch Second Division outfit Veendam in 1997.

Wiekens said: "I don't expect Manchester City to renew my contract so I have to look for a new club.

"At the moment, I am not sure what clubs are interested in me. There have been a few rumours and Ipswich have been mentioned but there is nothing concrete and no-one has contacted me.

"I just want regular football. The feeling of playing a game, then getting into your car after you have won is unbelievable but I haven't had it for 18 months now."

Apart from a few appearances on the bench as an unused substitute, Wiekens' only senior action came in the second leg of the UEFA Cup qualifier with TNS back in August.

For once, Ipswich's location may help them if they pursue Wiekens, who is considering whether to stay in England or return to Holland.

However, his chances of impressing prospective managers have been reduced by a knee injury which will even rule him out of reserve games for the next fortnight.

Ipswich did complete three signings yesterday when Scott Mitchell, Jerome Sobers and Ben Patten all penned their professional contracts.

Reserve-team skipper Mitchell made his Town debut when he went on as a substitute in the 2-2 draw at Derby County in November and was on the bench on Tuesday at Stoke.

Sobers, who is still 17, and Patten, who turned 18 last month, are both new recruits from Ryman League club Ford United and have been regulars in the reserves this year.