Ipswich Town manager Paul Jewell has admitted that he tried to steal George Friend from the grasp of Championship rivals Middlesbrough.

The Doncaster Rovers full-back recently agreed personal terms and underwent a medical at the Riverside and is expected to complete his move later this week.

However, Jewell has confirmed that along with Nottingham Forest, the race for Friend's signature had descended into a three-way battle.

"Dean Saunders rang me and said that Middlesbrough and Forest had made a bid for him," Jewell told the East Anglian Daily Times.

"We did enquire after him, in fact we made a bid for him, but he's going to Middlesbrough."

Friend made 29 appearances for Doncaster last season.