91Èȱ¬

Ipswich have signed midfielder Jimmy Bullard and striker Daryl Murphy, with defender Ibrahima Sonko set to follow.

Bullard, 32, has agreed a two-year deal, while 28-year-old Murphy arrives on a season-long loan from Celtic.

"We faced stiff competition for Jimmy, but the owner's backed us," Jewell told .

Sonko, 30, who spent last season on loan at Portsmouth, is expected to sign a one-year contract following a successful trial spell.

Bullard, who had his Hull contract terminated last week following an alleged breach of club discipline, scored five times in 16 games during a loan spell at Portman Road last season.

Republic of Ireland international Murphy has not featured for Celtic this season but played 21 times last term, scoring three goals, after

It is his second spell at the Suffolk side, after , scoring six goals in 18 games.

"I'm looking forward to playing for the club again and we will see how it goes from there,"

"If I do well and the manager wants to extend my stay beyond the year then I certainly would be interested but for now all I want to concentrate on is playing games."

Former Stoke and Reading centre-half Sonko, 30, featured for the Town reserves against Colchester earlier in the week.

The Senegal international spent last training with Reading over the summer.

He initially joined the Royals from Brentford in 2004 and played 127 league games during his four years at the club.