Central defender Gareth McAuley could be the second former Town skipper to return to Portman Road this week with the Blues eyeing a move for 38-year-old.

According to Football Insider, Town are leading the chase for McAuley, a free agent having left West Brom at the end of last season, ahead of Rangers.

TWTD understands that McAuley is indeed among the central defenders the Blues are looking at signing but with other candidates also still under consideration ahead of Friday's 5pm deadline.

Manager Paul Hurst said yesterday that Blackpool’s Curtis Tilt is now “very unlikely” to join Town but AFC Wimbledon skipper Deji Oshilaja is understood to remain a target.

Northern Ireland international McAuley made 126 starts and one sub appearance for the Blues between June 2008 and May 2011.

The Larne-born defender joined the Blues from Leicester for £1.1 million and moved on to West Brom having turned down a new Town contract.

Photo: Action Images

patthegimp added 15:18 - Aug 30 Pace isnt everything. Intelligence and experience count. Remember Paul McGrath-positioning sense superb. One of the world's best defenders- no real pace
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ArnieM added 15:31 - Aug 30 Agreed but is McAuley in that same category ?
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ThaiBlue added 15:32 - Aug 30 Only time will tell give it a chance b4 everyone starts their negative comments.things need a bit of a change as the season although still early looks like a long tough 1 for the blues.
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Lightningboy added 15:37 - Aug 30 @Elwood Spot on...still,Evans knows best. 🤔
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gt81 added 15:57 - Aug 30 I'm ok with this as a temporary solution, need cover until the window opens again in January where we might have a better chance to get Tilt or whoever. If McAuley is fit enough he'll be good enough for a last hurrah.
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Juanforthemoney added 16:00 - Aug 30 Too old now and will be found wanting against a younger more mobile attacker. If we sign him we might as well have played Warky!!
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Razor added 16:04 - Aug 30 Some fans need to look at where we are in the table-----nothing beats experience and perhaps even the manager has now realised too many youngsters in too soon and some much needed experience necessary. Even God ( Sis Bobby) did this with Clarke and Robertson years ago and it worked then. Both these players know our club as well and how we work so I agree with both signings and hope they happen. Appeal rejected-----utter disgrace!!

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Daleyitfc added 16:56 - Aug 30 Darren Bent & Mauricio Taricco must be on Uriah's radar too, surely? Bruce Twamley for a 3rd spell to play another game?
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Bergholtblue added 17:23 - Aug 30 According to Keane, he wasn't good enough to play for this club and that was 8 years ago! (What a tw*t!) Has experience but worry about pace. Walters back as well. What's Counago doing these days?
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leroy2488 added 17:36 - Aug 30 Could be a very clever bit of business as both Walters and McAuley have great experience to pass on to an otherwise pretty young hungry team, but also presumably as McAuley is a free agent, it would mean we still have just the 5 loans and all players will be available to play, rather than leaving a loan signing out?
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Suffolkboy added 18:33 - Aug 30 Can see that as usual there's lots of doubts and doubters,but what's to lose ? both these players are excellent pros ; can't imagine either would not aim to be totally match fit ASAP .They bring wise heads , wise advice and great direction to a largely inexperienced unit who struggle with organisation. in the defensive box , and lack thrust in the offensive area( both W& MC have shown they know how to find the net ) . Come on you blues , let's have faith ,believe and ensure all those coming here are made to feel really welcome ! Let's truly be supporters !!

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RegencyBlue added 20:41 - Aug 30 He's 38 and was never the fastest! Not sure about this one at all. At this stage of the transfer window I'm afraid this looks like a panic move. Hopefully I'm wrong.
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armchaircritic59 added 20:55 - Aug 30 Kerbmeister, don't think the Beats knees would stand up to it these days! Could get Big Al as well i suppose!
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armchaircritic59 added 21:04 - Aug 30 Was about to say, what are you doing at Helsinki airport, then i spotted your name, FB! Judging by the posts on this subject, maybe we could start a game of who's spotted an ex Town player anywhere, from now, and the person who spots one the furthest away from Ipswich, is our new CB!
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Gcon added 21:32 - Aug 30 wow. the progress they've all been craving!.....
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gkroon89 added 21:38 - Aug 30 If he wants it....Huth should be given a trial to prove his fitness as he is a little injury prone, but he was/is one hell of a no nonsense defender. Might be a good option.
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FenboyBlue added 09:29 - Aug 31 It's starting to feel like Blues Brothers: the sequel. "We're getting the band back together". This could prove to be an excellent stop-gap solution to help the rebuilding of the new young team. I'd rather have 2 ex-Ipswich captains on board than 2 randoms loans from elsewhere.
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