IPSWICH Town coach Steve Foley today revealed that the Blues are looking to La Liga to strengthen their squad.Foley spoke from Valencia where he has an apartment and where he has links with the local club.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town coach Steve Foley today revealed that the Blues are looking to La Liga to strengthen their squad.

Foley spoke from Valencia where he has an apartment and where he has links with the local club.

The technical skills coach watched a game yesterday and said: “There are a few clubs struggling financially in Spain, and there might be good players available.

“It was a general search although we have the departure of central defender Jason De Vos to address.

“The manager has to decide on his goalkeeping options, and every club would be given a boost by having a regular 20-goal a season striker on their books.

“The spine of any team is important to gaining success.

“We have three players who scored 12 and 13 goals each, which was great, but a 20-goal man wins you a few extra matches.”

It is believed that Foley watched the derby between Levante and Valencia, and reports have suggested that front man Rahamat Mustapha (Riga) was one possible target.

The former Dutch Under-20 international was born in Accra, Ghana, and joined relegated Levante in 2005.

Now 26, Mustapha's club were relegated last month and have had difficulty paying wages - with a number of players expected to leave in the summer.

Foley added: “We have picked up Pablo Counago and Sito Castro from Spanish football, and we are keeping tabs to see if there are any more out here like them.

“It has taken me a while to get over failing to make the play-offs in a season where we got so close yet so far.

“Injuries played a part, and I am sure we will now kick-on.

“We have set a benchmark and the players know how close they came. This will increase their confidence.

“Losing Jason (De Vos) is a blow, and sometimes you don't realise what you have got until they have gone.”

While Town are chasing West Ham's Richard Wright on the goalkeeping front they are also in line to bring striker David Healy to Portman Road if Premier League survivors Fulham are willing to let him go.

Although relegated Leicester City had one of the best defensive records in the Coca-Cola Championship and their central defender Gareth McAuley is still on the Blues' wish-list.