Sereni set to leave Ipswich

Ipswich goalkeeper Matteo Sereni has been cleared for a return to Italy after Town boss George Burley’s assurance he will not stand in his way.

Sereni, the club’s record signing in a £4.5m (€7m) move from Sampdoria, penned a four-year deal last August.

But he has struggled to settle in East Anglia, and Brescia have expressed an interest in the former Italy Under-21s international.

"Matteo had a difficult season in England last year and has made it known that he would prefer to move back to Italy," Burley told the club’s official website, www.itfc.co.uk.

"We have agreed that we will not stand in the way of that happening, in the first instance in agreeing to a loan deal and in turn a permanent move."

Sereni made a big impression at the start of last season before asking to be rested in January’s FA Cup tie against Dagenham & Redbridge.

Andy Marshall seized his chance, and Sereni appeared in only four of the Blues’ final 19 games of the season.

Brescia president Gino Corioni has, meanwhile, confirmed his interest in Sereni. "We like him a lot; in the next few days we will try to buy him," said Corioni.