Kilmarnock are trying to finalise the signing of Corrie Ndaba before this week's Europa League first-leg match against Cercle Brugge.
The defender, 24, is not part of Ipswich Town's plans following their promotion to the English Premier League and is free to find a new club.
Killie struck a deal with the Tractor Boys earlier in the summer with regards to a fee for the Irishman.
However, Derek McInnes has been made to play the waiting game as Ndaba still has 12 months remaining on his contract at Portman Road. The player and the club have been working on agreeing to a financial settlement package.
It's understood the Ayrshire side are pushing to get the permanent transfer through before Tuesday's deadline to submit their squad for the Europa League encounter against Cercle Brugge.
There was plenty of interest in Ndaba from clubs in the UK - including Hibernian - and he also had options abroad.
Should a deal go through, then Ndaba will become Killie's fourth signing of the summer, joining Bruce Anderson, Stuart Findlay and Robby McCrorie.
Read more:
McInnes made no secret of his desire to reunite with Ndaba at the back end of last season.
"We would like Corrie, I said that to him at the end of the season, I said it to him last season," he previously said. "I've spoken to him a few times throughout the summer, I spoke to him again last week. He's probably got to get himself sorted out at Ipswich but we feel there's a deal to be done.
"We'll wait and see but we've got to be mindful we're a couple of defenders short, we'd like to try and make a couple of signings if we can.
"We've got a very important game and a very important season coming up so if we have to move on we will. We would like Corrie but ultimately Corrie might have other options."
