IPSWICH Town boss Jim Magilton's hopes of completing a loan deal in time for tomorrow's friendly against Lazio have been dashed.Magilton was confident of landing his target, believed to be a Premiership starlet, but the player's club are reluctant to agree anything less than a permanent deal.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH Town boss Jim Magilton's hopes of completing a loan deal in time for tomorrow's friendly against Lazio have been dashed.

Magilton was confident of landing his target, believed to be a Premiership starlet, but the player's club are reluctant to agree anything less than a permanent deal.

With cash still tight, the Town boss had no alternative but to switch his search elsewhere.

Magilton said: “If there is one thing I've learned in the short time I have been in charge it's that transfers can take time.

“I thought we had a deal in place but you can't rush things, especially if you are chasing the right sort of player.

“Clearly it is going to take a bit more time than we originally thought and it won't happen for the Lazio game.”

Magilton has so far failed to reinforce the squad he inherited from predecessor Joe Royle.

But he added: “While we would have liked to have players in place we are not panicking and are not over anxious that we haven't as yet brought anyone in.

“The players we identified as targets are not available or are still in the process of pre-season training with Premiership clubs.

“The situation can change very quickly in football and I remain hopeful that something will happen before the first league game on Saturday week.”