IPSWICH boss Joe Royle is "very hopeful" of capturing top target Jason De Vos.Royle will be contacted by phone this evening, when the 30-year-old Canadian international central defender will give him his answer.

IPSWICH boss Joe Royle is "very hopeful" of capturing top target Jason De Vos.

Royle will be contacted by phone this evening, when the 30-year-old Canadian international central defender will give him his answer.

Wigan skipper De Vos, who has rejected a new deal at the JJB Stadium, is also weighing up offers from Cardiff and Stoke.

But Royle is confident of landing the player, who visited Portman Road yesterday for talks and even underwent a medical.

De Vos toured the facilities and was clearly impressed, but he was today keeping an appointment with Cardiff that he made last week.

Having met Bluebirds' boss Lennie Lawrence in London on Friday, he agreed to see him again at Ninian Park today.

De Vos will also have talks with club owner Sam Hammam, who holds the purse strings and is eager to back his manager in building a squad capable of challenging for promotion next season.

But Royle maintained: "While Jason has to speak to Cardiff, I am very hopeful that he will be joining us.

"We still have a bit of tidying up to do, but everything went well yesterday and Jason has promised to give me a call tonight with his answer."

Royle departs tomorrow for a break at his holiday home in Majorca, but has already made preliminary inquiries for a striker who is also available on a Bosman free transfer.

The Town boss added: "I will be pursuing other business when I return from holiday. We know who we want and have declared our interest."