Town have again been linked with Wigan midfielder Ben Watson. The 24-year-old was reported to be interesting the Blues last summer prior to his £2 million move to the Latics from Crystal Palace in January.

Watson is said to be out of favour under new Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, having been signed by former boss Steve Bruce, a close friend of Roy Keane's. The Blues are reported to be ready to make a £1.5 million offer for the Camberwell-born central midfielder, while Cardiff are claimed to be interested in taking him on a season-long loan.

Capped twice by England at U21 level, Watson came through the youth system at Palace and was a regular in their side prior to his move, but has made little impact with his new club, making only six starts and four sub appearances, all last season, scoring two goals.

Keane said after Saturday's defeat that he wants to add to his squad before the close of the transfer window a week on Tuesday and when the emergency loan window opens a week later: "I think we are short by two or three players and there will need to be a reaction in terms of trying to get players in.

"But when you are at the bottom, trying to attract players is going to be even more difficult, so there are a tough few weeks coming up.

"It is going to be very difficult in terms of short-term improvement unless we improve the squad."

Central midfield is an area Keane has said he is looking at strengthening with David Norris out until Christmas and with the Blues having been weak in that area so far this season.

Town are also understood to be keen on adding Bohemians midfielder Gary Deegan to their squad before the end of the week, having originally been planning to sign the 21-year-old in November at the end of the Irish season when Bohs keeper Brian Murphy is also set to join the club.

Meanwhile, Watford have praised Town chairman and owner Marcus Evans for the way he handled the £1.7 million deal which saw Tamás Priskin join the Blues from the Hornets earlier this month.

Watford chairman Jimmy Russo has released a statement outlining why Reading's offer for midfielder Tommy Smith was unacceptable and in passing commented on the Priskin deal: "We showed in our dealings with Ipswich and Tamas Priskin that we understand the value of our players and that we are fair in our dealings.

"It is exactly the same with Reading and Tommy Smith. We have to give credit to Marcus Evans at Ipswich for backing his manager and negotiating with us in a quiet and discreet manner. It eventually produced a suitable and appropriate deal for Ipswich, Tamas Priskin and Watford."

Photo: Action Images

ItfcLoyal added 08:41 - Aug 24 Would be a good signing We need a creative midfielder we still need a defender Though which could be danny shittu And a striker david healy has been linked again But i think we should bid for beckford hes not proven at are level but you have to take a chance Also i agree with itfcserbia John-Joe O' Toole Does look a good player and wood be a good adition .
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welshtractorboy added 09:19 - Aug 24 Yes agree with most Watson would be a good signing.Saturday well again like most think thank god we have RW. Cardiff on yesterday,how did they win the game?,exceptionally good midfield performance,something we still have not done in our four games, Rae,scored Ledley,Whittingham looked capable of scoring,we DO NOT have that in our team. If we did Priskin and Connor would be banging them in just like Chopra and Bothroyd.simple!!!!!! One thing i would do on Tuesday,play the second half 11,we need a win,a confidence booster,we wont get this if we play our second team. Come on RK,play our second half team on Tuesday Get the confidence back in the team

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tractorboybig added 09:56 - Aug 24 Watson cant be that good or he would have made more than 6 apperances in a season for wigan.
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lewis added 10:04 - Aug 24 If he had of made more then we wouldn't be able to get him because they wouldn't sell would they. You obviously never saw him at Crystal Palace.
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Hinesy_itfc1 added 10:12 - Aug 24 i think the signing of watson is more of a need for me than a want, we NEED someone big and strong like him, with a fantastic defensive side along with his passing ability and attacking sense. he is a great mould for the type of player we so greatly pray for. COME ON KEANO.
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MarkITFC added 11:36 - Aug 24 Just heard on SkySports news with an interview with roy that he wants to sign 2 more players , its just waiting to see if they let him talk to the players. SO hopefully Ben Watson and a forward or defender . I want Shittu... Sol Campbell ???
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lukeym18 added 12:28 - Aug 24 sign him up, and get dan shittu at the back!! & dave nugent upfront 3 top players.
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ItfcLoyal added 12:33 - Aug 24 Dont think the town fans would take very well to nugent after rejecting us numerous amount of times
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motch2009 added 12:54 - Aug 24 wheres sixto these days?
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lukeym18 added 13:14 - Aug 24 itfcloyal, no they probs wouldnt but in the end if he scores goals people would begin to like him here. im all for him coming, hope keane has him in mind!
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jayjay198423 added 13:18 - Aug 24 no chance of him coming to town would be more attrative clubs then us in for him. NB from charlton id look into thou keano.
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bluewein added 13:19 - Aug 24 Sol Campbell, not as stupid as some mite think. No takers in the prem for his services. Watson would add much needed steel to the midfield, would b a great signing. Would like Shittu bt think he's being looked at by pompy. Crap club bt he'd want 2 stay in prem same as murphy and whitehead.
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lukeym18 added 13:24 - Aug 24 these are the players we should get! campbell,shittu,watson,darren gibson (on loan), nugent & mecheda or welbeck on loan aswell. what you lot think ?
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buryblue77 added 16:41 - Aug 24 Yes, sign him up he'd be a quality signing and would give some influence in midfield that we're currently lacking. Along with him I'd also like to see Michael Ball, Sol Campbell and Jan Venegoor of Hesselink come in who are all free agents, although if any of them were actually offered contracts I'd say that Ball, probably, Campbell, maybe and Hesselink unlikely to accept but if we could get those four players it would fill the four areas where we are lacking so badly.

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ItfcLoyal added 18:48 - Aug 24 Watson , Giovanni , shittu , cambell and a stiker not sure who though david healy Would make us a top two contender .
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BlueMagic added 21:28 - Aug 24 Zheng Zhi, isn't he a free agent at the moment? I remember him being a bit of alright for Charlton. Campbell at CB, get Zhi in to play behind Priskin and give him some service, Watson in Midfield, and Beckford just because.
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Wozza added 23:30 - Aug 24 This is the sort of player we need to be looking at and i'd say we need this position filled BADLY. CM, CB, CF in that order of importance.
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