Town have reiterated that Jon Walters has not made a transfer request. Reports in his native North-West yesterday again claimed the striker or midfielder had asked to leave the Blues.

Chief executive Derek Bowden said: "Nothing has changed. Jon has not handed in a transfer request and we have had no offers for him.”

Walters, who has remained surprisingly taciturn throughout a summer full of speculation about his future, is believed to want to move closer to his family in the North-West with Stoke City and West Brom understood to be interested.

The former Chester man is one of three Town first teamers reported to be interesting Premier League clubs. Owen Garvan and Pablo Couñago are also said to have been why a number of top flight clubs sent scouts to Tuesday's Carling Cup victory over Colchester, a game the Irish midfielder missed due to a stomach bug.

Town would not sell unless they received very significant offers and were able to line up replacements before the closure of the transfer window on Monday. All three players are contracted until 2011.

Elsewhere, QPR are reportedly on the verge of signing Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson for £2 million. Watson was claimed to be a Town target yesterday with the Blues wanting to involve the former England U21 international in the proposed Alan Lee deal.

Bristol City are keen on former Blue James Scowcroft, according to reports. Scowcroft would be allowed to leave Crystal Palace if Alan Lee or another striker joins Neil Warnock's club.

Elsewhere, former academy striker Alan Connell has rejoined Bournemouth from Brentford.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls