JAMAICAN international Ricardo Fuller could be the first reward of Ipswich Town's new perestroika.Surplus to requirements at Southampton, Fuller has emerged as the Blues' top target as they look to secure a goalscorer now that the transfer window has opened.

By Derek Davis

JAMAICAN international Ricardo Fuller could be the first reward of Ipswich Town's new perestroika.

Surplus to requirements at Southampton, Fuller has emerged as the Blues' top target as they look to secure a goalscorer now that the transfer window has opened.

Manager Joe Royle is desperate for reinforcements, and would have liked to have secured someone today in time for their trip to Stoke City this afternoon, but the club are waiting for a signed letter of confirmation from the banks that the restructure of the club's debt has been finalised.

New Saints boss George Burley is willing to allow the 26-year-old former Portsmouth, Preston, Hearts and Crystal Palace striker to leave St Mary's, with a number of clubs, including Millwall and Stoke, vying with Ipswich for his signature.

Nicknamed Wily Boo by his Reggae Boyz team-mates, due to his silky footwork and clever play, Fuller has scored just three goals in 13 appearances for the Saints this season after Harry Redknapp took him from Portsmouth.

Another of the famed Reggae Boyz, and former Pompey striker, Deon Burton last night joined Championship club Sheffield Wednesday in a £110,000 move from Rotherham United.

Royle is also believed to have contacted West Brom about trying to get Geoff Horsfield on loan, while Charlton are well aware of Town's interest in Jonatan Johansson, and Jay Bothroyd, Francis Jeffers and Shaun Bartlett may all become available soon.

Jamie Cureton's return to Swindon Town, after his successful loan spell at Colchester United, has also been noted

Veteran striker and centre half Dion Dublin has been told he can leave Leicester City, which will alert Town, while Blackburn's Matt Jansen is looking to impress at a new club after mutually terminating his contract at Blackburn Rovers.

Liverpool's Neil Mellor is understood to be looking for a loan move, along with Manchester United young centre-forward Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. But, even though Royle and Sir Alex Ferguson are close, with the United boss writing the foreword in Royle's autobiography, it is unlikely the inexperienced forward will join Town.

Any signing will not arrive in time for today's midday deadline to play at Stoke City this afternoon but the Blues are hopeful of securing at least one new player in time for the FA Cup tie with Portsmouth next Saturday.

Players need to be registered by noon on Friday to be allowed to play and at least one striker, and possibly a defender, are expected to be secured.

Town are stretched today, with Nicky Forster likely to be joined on the sidelines by Dean Bowditch, who was taken off during the win over Luton on Saturday with a hip

problem.

Richard Naylor is suspended after picking up five booking, while Spanish full-back Sito Castro is nursing a sore ankle but should play.

Jason De Vos is suffering from a dead leg and a bad back, while Danny Haynes has a sore knee, but again both are determined to play

Ipswich Town have dismissed as 'speculation' reports on the internet and in a national newspaper that Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson would be joining the Blues as manager, with Joe Royle moving to director of football.