Town, Aberdeen and Hibernian are all chasing Sligo Rovers striker Eoin Doyle, according to reports in Scotland. The 23-year-old free agent has already held talks at Easter Road and has been training with the Edinburgh side but the Blues and Dons are said to be ready to pounce.

Initially a winger before moving up front in the last year or so, Dubliner Doyle started his career with Shelbourne but failed to make an impact until he moved on to Shamrock Rovers in 2007.

In 2009 6ft-tall Doyle, a former Republic of Ireland U15 international, joined his current club and last season netted 20 goals in the League of Ireland Premier Division (25 in all competitions) as his side finished second in the table and won the FAI Cup for the second year running.

Sligo spokesperson Keith O'Dwyer says Doyle wouldn’t be averse to a move to Easter Road but that the deal isn’t done: "[Hibs boss] Pat Fenlon has come in for him and it's definitely something Eoin is interested in.

"We're not 100 per cent sure he is going to sign and we would not give up hope that we can sign Doyle for next year because he is a huge player for us.

"But we are very aware about the interest from Hibs and, as he is not a contracted player, he is entitled to seek fresh moves for himself.

"Pat knows our manager Paul Cook very well, so I'd have imagined he would have called him about this.

"We don't want to lose him, he broke the club's scoring record for most goals in a league and that record was set in 1937.

"We used to play him on the wing, but he played up front this year and was an absolute revelation."

O'Dwyer says his club may be entitled to compensation: "He is under 24 and we would seek clarification for the FAI and UEFA about the need to pay a training and development fee."

Photo: Action Images

BlueinBrum added 11:44 - Dec 21 Good to see Town scouts looking abroad, even if it is Ireland (again). Get back over to Holland and pick up some players who are taught to play the game properly would be my advice.
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buryblue77 added 11:50 - Dec 21 Doesn't matter if they are Irish, what matters is that they are looking and if you remember a lot of the Irish players we've had recently were Keanes old mates! this sounds like proper scouting to me.
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ITFC4daprem added 12:00 - Dec 21 Would add some hight up front
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clive_baker added 12:11 - Dec 21 Sounds promising. Good age and probably relatively cheap. A number of Irish players have come over here and been real finds, hopefully he can be the next.
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casanovacrow added 12:14 - Dec 21 height? 6 foot ain't exactly tall. Would much rather Olly Mann being mentioned if we are looking at players from lesser leagues.
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DiamondGezzer added 12:16 - Dec 21 I wonder just how strongly we are linked with him ? Obviously knows where the net is.
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Seasider added 12:26 - Dec 21 If we are going to get a decent striker surely will have to pay money,as surely dont need another free agent.Priority still a right back centre back and quick midfielder,as was shown when Lee Martin was switched there on Saturday.Must bear in mind also the standard of League of Ireland!
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irishtim added 12:59 - Dec 21 Have seen him play well worth a try for inital fee with add ons if succesful. Knows the way to goal.
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Mark added 13:08 - Dec 21 It is always hard to judge when it is such a big step up, but he sounds worth considering taking a gamble on, especially as there is no transfer fee. Ipswich have tried to buy proven strikers with £4M+ spent on Lisbie, Priskin, Scotland and Chopra and none of those have set the world alight (so far). It would be nice to sign some younger players cheaply or for free and see their value appreciate rather than depreciate.

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llewej_tuo added 14:33 - Dec 21 seen him playin a few times in the showgrounds ... he's good at league of ireland level, but thats it. Its a big gamble, but then again seamus coleman played for rovers in the league of ireland, so did paul mcgrath, liam brady, roy keane etc... so some of the good ones do slip through the net until later on ?
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UsualSuspect added 14:35 - Dec 21 Know absolutely nothing about him, maybe he's being looked at with a view to playing on the wing, does anybody know if he has pace?
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irishtim added 15:09 - Dec 21 usualsuspect he is nippy but up front is where he should be. Def worth a try & free also.
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jas0999 added 15:16 - Dec 21 Never heard of him or seen him play - so difficult to judge! Hopefully not another Drury.
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broomfield123 added 15:55 - Dec 21 James perch anyone and james harper
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Eireannach_gorm added 15:57 - Dec 21 He scored when the two top teams in the League of Ireland played earlier in the season.
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TractorTrog added 16:29 - Dec 21 Ive seen this lad play as and yes would agree with that he would be worth a go and could give us some height and is good with his head something we could do with up front since our boy went to Sundeland . Regards Level of Irish footballl these players are tough and can play on any surface and would feel very comfortable playing at our level get him in for a look.
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Jesney_Havoc added 22:13 - Dec 21 Whatever next ? Bored !
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Jesney_Havoc added 22:22 - Dec 21 Pretty low budget match by the look. Both sides are awful. Our reserves and youth are better surely ?
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Pettitt10 added 22:52 - Dec 21 i agree with BlueinBrum, when we've done well in the past we've always had a good dutchman!
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darkroonsitfc added 10:35 - Dec 22 maynard anyone??? he's been transfer listed
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