CANADIAN international Sandro Grande has today joined Ipswich Town on a 10-day trial.Meanwhile, passport and visa requirements could complicate a move for 17-year-old sensation Jaime Peters.

EXCLUSIVE

CANADIAN international Sandro Grande has today joined Ipswich Town on a 10-day trial.

Meanwhile, passport and visa requirements could complicate a move for 17-year-old sensation Jaime Peters.

Peters' agent has received the 1,200-signed petition urging the Canadian international to sign for the Blues.

The youngster has been discussing the offer, made to him by Ipswich in July, with his parents and agent and the EADT understands further talks with the Blues are soon to be held.

Although Peters was signed to Kaiserslautern last season, he does not hold an EU passport and, to ensure a Commonwealth visa, he needs to have played in at least 70% of first-team games within two years whichever club he decides to sign for.

Millwall and Derby County are also keen to sign the speedy right-sided midfielder, who enjoyed a week with Manchester United and at least one other Premiership club earlier this month.

New Town triallist Grande is a 27-year-old midfielder who has no passport or visa problems.

Grande played in the same World Cup qualifying side as Jason De Vos and has also competed in the Intertoto Cup with Serie A side Brescia.

The multi-lingual, Quebec-born player recently helped Montreal Impact to the North American Soccer League championship and was recommended to the Blues by Canada's national team manager Frank Yallop.

Grande arrived in Ipswich yesterday and will link up with the Blues squad when they return from a two-day break this morning.

International clearance, in order for him to be available to play for Town reserves against West Ham at Dagenham on Wednesday, is being sought.

Grande last night told the EADT: “I have heard a lot of good things about Ipswich from Jason, who I spoke to at the last Canadian camp, and Frank (Yallop) has told me he believes I will do well here.

“From what I hear, Ipswich's style of football will suit me and I'm really excited about being here.

“I played seven years in Italy and would love to play in Europe again, where there is a higher standard of football than there is at the moment in Canada.”

Grande started his professional career in 1998 with Montreal but his dual nationality allowed him to move to Italy, where he became the first Quebec-born payer to sign a contract with a Serie A club when he agreed a three-year deal with them in 2001, after moving from Serie C side Frosinone.

He played in the Intertoto Cup against Tatabanya in Budapest but problems with the initial transaction brought his stay at Brescia to an end and he was forced to return to Frosinone. Stints at lower league sides Potenza and Albalonga followed, before being released from his contract in August 2003.

Grande returned to Montreal Impact in April and helped them win the A-League championship in September.

His outstanding performances attracted Yallop's attention and he won his first international cap against Costa Rica earlier that month.

n Tony Dinning, who provided midfield cover at the beginning of the season during a two-month loan spell from Wigan, has joined Bristol City for an initial one-month period.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk