Town's move for Málaga central defender César Navas has been put on hold while the 27-year-old recovers from his broken metatarsal, according to reports in Spain. The Blues will assess the ex-Real Madrid B side player's recovery before deciding whether to complete the signing.

Navas underwent surgery yesterday to have a plate inserted in his right foot as part of his rehabilitation from the injury he sustained while playing a trial game for the Blues at Crawley last week.

Town will monitor the former Spanish U17 and U18 international's recovery over the next few weeks and the deal could still be done before the transfer window closes at the end of August, with a fee of €500,000 (£336,000) now being talked about in the Spanish press.

The broken metatarsal is expected to keep Navas out of action for between six and eight weeks and his period of unavailability appears to have reduced his value.

Meanwhile, Hull City chairman Paul Duffen says his side's bid to sign Town striker Alan Lee is still not dead, despite saying quite the contrary last week.

Further speculation regarding Lee's future was expected after the Tigers move for Leeds frontman Richard Cresswell collapsed yesterday because Hull were unhappy with aspects of the former Preston man's medical.

However, Duffen says that Lee would still have a target regardless of whether the move for Cresswell had been successful: “I bid £600,000 for Alan Lee. The only reason he hasn't joined the football club is the club where he currently plays football has decided he's not available. He hasn't gone anywhere else.”

Duffen says his club's offer is still on the table but that the deal won't happen unless Town drop their valuation nearer to manager Phil Brown's assessment of Lee's worth. The former Cardiff and Rotherham man is out of contract at Portman Road at the end of the new season.

Hull are believed to be ready to pay the Republic of Ireland striker £3,000-a-week over the course of a three-year deal. Town have already offered Lee a new contract, although we understand it falls far short of the deal apparently on offer at the KC Stadium.

The Blues are set to continue talks with the 28-year-old regarding new terms, with Lee happy and settled in the area and not actively looking to move on.

Boss Jim Magilton has also revealed that the Blues will listen to offers for midfielder Matt Richards. The 22-year-old looks out of the first team picture at the moment and wasn't included in the 17-man squad which made the trip to Royal Antwerp earlier in the week.

Magilton says that Richards could come back into his plans if the players ahead of him pick up injuries, but as things stand at present the one-time England U21 international could be allowed to leave either on loan or on a permanent basis.

In the past, Colchester and Burnley have shown interest in taking Richards on loan, while former boss George Burley, who gave the academy product his debut as a 17-year-old, may fancy adding him to his Southampton squad.

Ross County's loan bid for young Town striker Jordan Rhodes, as reported by TWTD last month, is claimed to have been turned down by a national newspaper.

The Blues look unlikely to receive a windfall from Kieron Dyer's move from Newcastle to West Ham. Most newspapers report Dyer's price to be £6 million, £500,000 less than the Magpies paid the Blues for the England international. Town were due an undisclosed percentage of anything Newcastle made above the £6.5 million mark.

Elsewhere, released academy defender Luke Webster could face the Blues for the second time in pre-season later today. Webster is now on trial with Crawley, who face Town in a behind-closed-doors game this afternoon at the non-league's side's training camp, having previously faced his old side during a try-out with Stevenage earlier in the summer.

Town's U18 side is also in action today as they continue their few days away from Playford Road. The youngsters face a Port Vale side.

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