Ipswich Town are still locked in talks with James Collins over a potential deal to bring the centre-back to Portman Road.

The East Anglian Daily Times have revealed that the former West Ham man is training with Paul Hurst's men as the talks continue.

Even though the deadline has passed for clubs to bring in players, as Collins is a free agent, Ipswich are free to complete the deal at any time.

Hurst is looking to add a fourth option to his central defence, with summer signings Toto Nsiala and Matthew Pennington joining Luke Chambers as the three current options.

And, the Tractor Boys boss admitted after Sunday's derby draw with Norwich that he had an interest in the 35-year-old:

"We spoke to him last week and are due to have another conversation. I wouldn’t particularly rule it out. It’s certainly not a case of him just coming in to sign paperwork, but it’s something we will look at."

Collins would bring a wealth of experience to a relatively young Ipswich side and has spent the past 13 years as a Premier League player.

The Verdict

This would be a big signing for Ipswich as Collins would offer the side something on the pitch and also be an influential figure in the dressing room.

With the international break now upon us there is no immediate rush for Ipswich to conclude a deal and they can assess Collins in training.

After a slow start to the season, he could provide the team with the boost they need as they look to climb the table.

Thoughts, Ipswich fans? Let us know in the comments below.