Barnsley keeper Nick Colgan could be on his way to the Blues if rumours in South Yorkshire prove to be true. The 34-year-old is understood to have settled his contract with the Tykes after falling out of favour.

Colgan started his career in England with Chelsea after moving over from Eircom League side Drogheda, but made only one senior appearance with the Stamford Bridge club between 1992 and 1998.

While with the Premier League side, Colgan spent time on loan at Crewe, Grimsby, Brentford, Millwall and Reading, before joining Bournemouth on a free transfer.

The 6ft 1in tall keeper spent a year at Dean Court but failed to play a first team game, moving on to Hibs where he played 147 matches in five years and also spent a season on loan at Stockport.

Colgan moved on to Barnsley in the summer of 2004 and has made 119 appearances for the Oakwell club. In 2005 he went on a four-month loan at Dundee United.

Capped nine times by the Republic of Ireland, Colgan has played only once for Barnsley this season, a 4-1 home defeat to Coventry.

Colgan's Oakwell exit is not likely to be affected by Heinz Muller's lengthy absence due to the cruciate knee ligament injury he sustained earlier this week, with the Tykes targeting another keeper before the closure of the transfer window later today.

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