SPANISH central defender Cesar Navas is not far away from agreeing terms and could complete his transfer from Malaga to Ipswich Town in the next few hours.

By Elvin King

SPANISH central defender Cesar Navas is not far away from agreeing terms and could complete his transfer from Malaga to Ipswich Town in the next few hours.

The signing has to be completed by Friday to be sorted prior to the closing of the transfer window and Blues' boss Jim Magilton said this morning: “We are not far away.”

Magilton also revealed that if the formalities are not completed in time he is hopeful that Malaga will play ball and that Navas can join Town on loan until the window opens again in January.

Magilton added: “We have seen the x-rays of Cesar's broken metatarsal and they all look positive.

“It is now a case of getting down to completing the job and getting him on board.

“There are terms still to be agreed but we are confident we can overcome this and that he will be playing for us from October onwards.

“He is not in this country in the moment but if he is signed he can come to Portman road and we can have the opportunity to bed him in before he plays competitive games.

“If the signing doesn't happen then I have other options to bring in defensive cover and they will be a loan player from a Premier League Club.

“But at the moment it is Navas who we are working on signing before Friday.”

Magilton also confirmed that he would not resist midfielder George O'Callaghan moving on to Brighton.

The manager said: “George played very well against Brighton in the reserve play off final earlier this month and they have shown interest in him - the only club that has.

“I can understand George's frustration at being a squad member and not playing regularly at the age of 28 and would not stand in his way if he wanted to move.

“I have no problem with him and his attitude has always been excellent and he is a very good player. But I would not stand in his way as I have been there myself in the position that he now finds himself.”