IPSWICH have failed with an ambitious bid to sign striker Grzegorz Rasiak on loan from Tottenham.Town boss Joe Royle, desperate to increase his team's firepower, wanted to clinch a deal that would have seen Rasiak join up at Portman Road on January 1.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH have failed with an ambitious bid to sign striker Grzegorz Rasiak on loan from Tottenham.

Town boss Joe Royle, desperate to increase his team's firepower, wanted to clinch a deal that would have seen Rasiak join up at Portman Road on January 1.

But he was turned down when he made his move for the Polish international star.

It was ex-Ipswich manager George Burley, when he was in charge of Derby County last season, who brought 26-year-old Rasiak to England.

He scored 17 goals to help the Rams secure a place in the play-offs, where they were beaten by Preston.

In August this year, just hours before the transfer window closed, Spurs boss Martin Jol clinched a £1 million deal to take him to White Hart Lane.

But he has made little impact in the Premiership, with just two starts and a further appearance as a substitute without scoring.

Royle said: “I did ask about Rasiak but I can understand Tottenham's position right now.

“They've got a great season going there and will be losing Mido when he goes off to play in the African Nations Cup.”

Jol still rates Rasiak and confirmed he was staying put when he said: “I think he is doing great.

“He is terrific again in training and he is one of the best players with his head in the Premiership.

“It is still six weeks before Mido goes to the African Nations Cup and he is playing at the moment because he is doing well.

“Rasiak knows he is his understudy so if Mido is not there, he will play or I will play with Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe, although that is not an ideal situation.

“I prefer somebody who is a target man and a player who can play off him. I need somebody who can hold up the ball.”

Had he captured Rasiak it would have represented a great coup for Royle, who is still searching for the right man to boost Town's goals output.

Royle made a flying visit to Holland last night to run the rule over a number of potential signings.

He attended the reserve fixture between Ajax and FC Twente as he stepped up his search for reinforcements in the hope of making a charge up the Championship table during the second half of the season.

Both Ajax and FC Twente have young players - mainly Dutch but some from further afield - who could be loaned or even released in order to move on.

Royle was accompanied by chief scout Colin Suggett and they met up with ex-Ipswich skipper Romeo Zondervan, who used to work as the club's European scout but is now an agent in his homeland.

“It was more of a fact-finding mission than anything else,” confirmed the Town boss. “We were never going to come back with a player straight away.

“But we are looking extensively throughout Europe. The situation in England is increasingly difficult, with clubs reluctant to let players go out on loan.”

Royle has already confirmed that arrangements are in place to bring in a number of trialists in the coming weeks, with a view to boosting his squad when the transfer window re-opens in January.

Danish striker Sammy Youssouf arrived yesterday and impressed in a training game where he netted a couple of times.

The 29-year-old is currently with Maritimo, the Madeira-based club who are members of the Portuguese League, but is expected to be available next month.