Paul Jewell is hopeful of bringing Luke Chambers to Portman Road
Luke Chambers would be Paul Jewell’s second summer success story
By Dave Gooderham
Friday, June 29, 2012
10:13 AM
PAUL Jewell’s work under the transfer radar could be about to claim its second big success story of the summer.
The Town boss has already swooped for highly-rated Welsh Under-21 right-back Elliott Hewitt, a teenager who had been courted by Premier League clubs during last season.
Now Jewell, who has kept his summer dealings close to his chest since the end of last season, is stepping up his pursuit of Nottingham Forest skipper Luke Chambers on a free transfer.
The centre-back will become a free agent on Sunday and could be unveiled as an Ipswich Town player before the squad reports back for pre-season training next Thursday.
A 26-year-old, approaching 400 competitive appearances, and a Forest player of the year two seasons ago should not be sniffed at and will be seen by many Town fans as a key piece of next season’s jigsaw.
While Jewell continues to remain tight-lipped until a target puts pen to paper, we understand he is confident of landing his man having closely monitored Chambers in recent weeks.
The defender fell out of favour with Forest fans last season after publicly questioning their decision to boo their under-performing team and has since seen his hopes of remaining at the City Ground clouded by the club’s mysterious takeover bid.
Keen to get his future sorted, Chambers appears willing to make the switch to Suffolk with Forest boss Steve Cotterill understood to have already accepted that he will lose his skipper and the defender himself getting his team mates to sign a Forest shirt for him at the end of last season.
At least one new centre-back is a top priority for the Blues boss who currently just has left-footed duo Damien Delaney and Tommy Smith as options, with the latter in danger of missing the start of the season due to his Olympic involvement.
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7 comments
Luke Chambers is as I have said average-More than half his games have been as an average right back as he couldn't nail down a spot at centre back. I suspect Forest hierarchy recognise that promotion challenge is unlikely with him in team unless a quality player "carries" him. |cn Smith or Delaneydo this? Forest are probably shopping in a different market place now anyway, assuming Kuwaiti takeover is finalised.
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Zico Rice
Friday, June 29, 2012
Problem is , if the EADT didn't speculate on possible signing and just wrote about who Town actually sign they'd have 3 months of blank back pages.
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whymarkmariner
Friday, June 29, 2012
Reading this story you would think PJ is some sort of managerial genius! The stark reality, is with less than a week before pre-season, so far PJ has 'only' signed ONE player - and even he is injured and won't be back until October! I would be pleased to sign this guy from Forest, despite a really poor season last year. However, for every 'success' there has so far been many many failures, where not for the first time, PJ has clearly well and truely FAILED to attract his top targets. This Summer has so far been bitterly disappointing. I knew PJ was a poor manager, but not even I expected so little transfer activity! Until PJ leaves, this club will not move forward.
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Jason
Friday, June 29, 2012
2nd big success of the summer, really? The boy from the relegated 92nd club who is injured and will not go into the first team. Does this get fans pulses racing ? If thats success then this redefines the meaning of the word !
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graham garrod
Friday, June 29, 2012
Exactley what i was thinking Ted ...
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vinny1976
Friday, June 29, 2012
Agree with Ted Maul. Talk about 'counting chickens' etc. I know you have to sell papersget hits, but can't you report on actual events rather than feeding us what looks like definite info (when its anything but)? I'll believe Luke Chambers is signing for us when I see him holding a Town shirt on the club website. Commenting or sharing rumours on Twitter is fair enough. Its actually funny seeing the hits and misses throughout the summer. But when this chatter makes it into print, it actually affects things - potentially negatively. Sky Sports News and Football-Rumours.co.uk have a lot to answer for!
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IpsRich
Friday, June 29, 2012
Not really an "under-the-radar" signing now you've splashed his name all over the story two days before he becomes available. Watch this deal now collapse.
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Ted Maul
Friday, June 29, 2012