SOCCER: Ipswich Town have made a bid for a young emerging player currently making a big name for himself in the French League.The mystery man could be Lens' high-scoring star, Daniel Moreira, a 24-year-old who has netted seven times this season to help his club to the top of the table.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Town have made a bid for a young emerging player currently making a big name for himself in the French League.

The mystery man could be Lens' high-scoring star, Daniel Moreira, a 24-year-old who has netted seven times this season to help his club to the top of the table.

Moreira, a former French Under-21 international, has been earning rave reports in recent weeks, netting five times in his last three appearances.

The Star understands that Town scouts have been checking on the player, but Lens are reluctant to sell him.

Ipswich, currently in Sweden preparing for tonight's UEFA Cup match against Helsingborg, are looking to improve their squad and they have been keeping tabs on a wide player who has electric pace and can give Town more options in attack.

Finidi George is likely to be out for another month at least after suffering a compressed fracture of his cheekbone at Fulham two weeks ago and the Nigerian International has a date in the African Nations Cup for a few weeks in the new year.

France have produced a host of top quality players since their emergence as an international force a decade ago and the country is a strong breeding ground for quality young players.

Town manager George Burley confirmed today that Ipswich are looking at a player in a foreign league and he said: "We are always after players who can improve our squad and at the moment it looks as though there is nothing imminent in our search for a new signing.

"We are short on width following the injury to Finidi. We have spoken to clubs and it is a case of now waiting to see what happens."

A source in France confirmed that Ipswich had put in a bid for the unknown player but that this had been turned down as the club concerned know they are sitting on a youngster who could make them a lot of money in the transfer market.

Turning to tonight's game in Helsingborg, Burley is aware that the heavy pitch might affect his team's performance.

Burley said: "It is very heavy now and it churned up such a lot when I watched a game here two weeks ago.

"It is going to test the stamina of the players and it could well affect our passing game. The ball will not skip through so fast as it does on pitches in the Premiership and we must be well prepared for that.

"Helsingborg have drawn 0-0 with two English clubs they have played here in European competitions and we know it will be tough. Both teams created chances at Portman Road and we know full well that a goal for us tonight will be so important.

"I was far from happy after the West Ham game but we have talked about it to the players and we are all up for the task in hand and know that if we play well we are capable of going through."