IPSWICH boss Joe Royle is poised to snatch Drissa Diallo from under the noses of Burnley if the Suffolk club's transfer embargo is lifted later this week.

Royle has made the 30-year-old defender his number one summer transfer target.

And the Tractor Boys chief is ready to launch a bid to land him when the First Division club hope to get the go-ahead from the Football League to start signing players again after coming out of administration.

"I've been in discussions with Drissa for a while now and would love to make him my first signing here," admitted Royle.

"He is a powerful defender who's strong in the air and as brave as they come and he's just what we need after conceding too many goals last season."

Ipswich had a transfer embargo placed on them after they went into administration 16 weeks ago with debts approaching £60 million.

But that is expected to be lifted at a special meeting with the Football League tomorrow which would then clear the way for Royle to make his move for Diallo.

However, Burnley boss Stan Ternent has still not given up the chase for a player who was one of the few successes of the Clarets' often-breached back-line last season.

Ternent held make-or-break talks with the player's representative, Phil Black, last week in a bid to persuade him to stay at Turf Moor.

But the Clarets chief has his hands tied by the club's financial position and he is struggling to match the package Ipswich are offering.

"We've had an offer from Burnley and an offer from Ipswich and we are just waiting to see if we can match them up," said Black.

"At the moment, things are still wide open. Drissa still has a love affair with Burnley but I don't know whether they can come up with the same package Ipswich are offering or not.

"The balls are still in the air, though. Until Ipswich get permission from the Football League to start trading again then nothing is concrete."

Ipswich remain confident they will get the embargo lifted at the meeting.

The club have now come out of administration after they came up with a 'robust business plan' which received the backing of their creditors.

They have also sold 14,000 season tickets already for next season which further strengthens their case and Royle hopes to ease their financial burden by off-loading the likes of Matt Holland, Marcus Bent and Darren Bent this summer.