IPSWICH Town owner Marcus Evans is working hard behind the scenes to bring another loan signing to the club.Manager Roy Keane says that talks are currently taking place about another Portman Road recruit, but refused to comment further as to who the identity of that player was or what position they play in.

Stuart Watson

IPSWICH Town owner Marcus Evans is working hard behind the scenes to bring another loan signing to the club.

Manager Roy Keane says that talks are currently taking place about another Portman Road recruit, but refused to comment further as to who the identity of that player was or what position they play in.

“There's no news,” said Keane, when quizzed about the potential addition of the 'one or two' loan players he admitted he was keen to make last week.

“In the background the owner is trying to make progress on one player, but I've got no update on that.

“I've been focusing on working with the players that I've got and looking at the game tomorrow. That's as much news as I have for you.

“I'm not going to go into it, but there's one area I think we need to improve on, in terms of helping the team and the squad, and I'll keep working on it.”

Despite his side's lack of goals, Keane yesterday declared himself happy with the striking options that he has available, with the quintet of Pablo Counago, Tamas Priskin, Jon Walters, Connor Wickham and Jon Stead all at his disposal.

It is therefore highly likely that the area that he is keen to improve upon will be that of centre-back, especially with speculation mounting that Gareth McAuley could be on his way out of the club.

One player that has been linked with a loan move to Portman Road is experienced Bolton defender Danny Shittu, who earlier this week turned down a move to Sheffield United.

Bolton manager Gary Megson has admitted he will allow the out-of-favour 29-year-old the chance to go out and get some first football and says that his rejection of the Blades was more to do with them than the fact that he just didn't want to leave full stop.

He said: “I asked him if it was Sheffield United he didn't fancy or just that he didn't like the fact of going on loan, and it was Sheffield United.”