Town are amongst a number of Championship clubs targeting Northampton left winger Michael Jacobs, who is out of contract at the end of the season. Peterborough are also believed to be interested, while Derby, Watford, Bristol City and Charlton have all previously been linked.

The 20-year-old impressed in the Cobblers’ 2-1 Carling Cup victory at Portman Road in August and went on to score seven times in his second full season for the Cobblers.

Born in Rothwell, 5ft 9in tall Jacobs came through the ranks at Northampton, which is his local club, and broke into the first team in 2009/10 when he made two Johnstone’s Paint Trophy appearances, before spending time on loan with non-league Nuneaton Town. He has now made 86 starts and 14 sub appearances for the Sixfields club, scoring 15 goals.

Despite his contract being up this summer, Northampton, who have offered new terms to their prize asset, are entitled to compensation due to his age, but Cobblers manager Aidy Boothroyd said over the weekend that no one has yet offered an acceptable figure: “There is no news on the Michael Jacobs contract and it is one of those situations that is a little bit up in the air at the moment.

“No one has made us an offer that floats our boat and as things stand he will start pre-season here with everybody else.

“If it goes to a tribunal and that’s what Michael decides he wants to happen, we will get what we are due.”

Boothroyd says the League Two club want cash up front if possible: “We are not stupid, we won’t be going for a deal with sell-on clauses or add-ons because with Bosman moves and swap deals you can lose out there. If someone wants Michael they will have to find some serious cash to buy him.

“Cash is king and while we want to keep Michael, if he wants to move on then someone will have to pay the sort of money we know he is worth, it is as simple as that. He has been with this club since he was very young and he has done very well for us.”

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

northstand78 added 09:20 - May 8 Why so many people on here getting excited over another link..It won't happen, we know it won't happen but still we get the posters on here saying "great signing" and "well worth a punt".. It ain't going to happen. ArnieM you are spot on, another website should be set up for the links. Please keep the links off here and just tell us when someone has signed. PJ and Clegg couldn't sign a birthday card between them let alone someone under 25 with a bit of talent.

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itfc1981 added 09:21 - May 8 Clegg prove us wrong and get him in!
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Ipswichbusiness added 09:32 - May 8 Isn't this the sort of player that our academy ought to be producing?
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brittaniaman added 09:39 - May 8 Another one we will miss out on !!!!!!!! so folks do not get your hopes up ???? blueoff,,,,, it was our only our Dark Lord who thought he was not good enough ?? BOY are we suffering from some of his decisions !!!! and he has the cheek to sit in the studios offering his advice on games ?????? I think Adrian Chiles know more than he does ???????
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bluearmy78 added 09:41 - May 8 @northstand78, why won't we get him?? Yes there is always speculation & we are always linked with every man & his dog but I'm telling you that he is a good player!! At least something he isn't a journeyman and we should be going for players of his ilk.
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Bergholtblue added 09:41 - May 8 Wait! He is too young, he has not played at this level before, he may be too expensive, etc, etc, I thought I would be the first to put some negatives in. Posts are far too complimentary up to now, we need a balance of views on this site.
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daniel9624 added 09:53 - May 8 Come on Chaps, surely if we signed him, and paired him with Cressy down the left, it would be our most exciting left side for years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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iamipswich added 10:27 - May 8 HE WON'T BE AN IPSWICH PLAYER NEXT YEAR.
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DanLyles added 10:28 - May 8 This is the sort of player I like to see us being linked with. Gary Johnson was touting this kid as a Premiership player one day too. He's playing in a pretty poor side and still getting 7 or 8 a season from the wing, and winning player of the season in both his first two seasons. Only 20 with pace, would provide competition on the wings
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Lesta_Tractor added 10:44 - May 8 @Blueoff how is this related to Jordan Rhodes?
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PauloJulio added 10:57 - May 8 what about Luke Freeman of Stevenage?
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denhamblue added 11:03 - May 8 zzzzzzzzzzzz love the word linked,but i think the word will be failed.
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Langdon_Blue added 11:23 - May 8 It does make me laugh when a jounalist 'links' us with a player who may or may not be a target, people then slate PJ and or Clegg for failing to sign them. I bet most of the links were never actual targets in the first place!!
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Pessimistic added 11:28 - May 8 He is the one to answer our prayers!
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planetblue_2011 added 12:18 - May 8 He sounds a pretty decent player but I think we should focus on a goal keeper & defenders 1st then worry about the midfield & maybe striker. It's all good speculation but is it true!!
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DiamondGezzer added 12:24 - May 8 During the closed season when there is nothing going on, I for one like to read about being linked to various players. Its the antisipation, will we or won't we. It does no harm at all to be " linked " with, and for those who get " bored or who are tired of links already - don't read them. Simples !
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are_these_the_days added 12:38 - May 8 Brittaniaman - quite right & it doesn't end there. I'm sure that ME's reluctance to splash out is directly due to the millions wasted by RK. Does anyone take any notice of his views by the way( despite his repetitive 'listen' comments)
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simonsays added 13:02 - May 8 The second in a long line of linked players who will sign elsewhere!
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radiogaga added 13:19 - May 8 We would be crackers not to sign Jacobs!
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Michael11 added 13:35 - May 8 Could be another Aaron Cresswell type of signing, not a big name but someone who really wants to be at the club and work hard to impress! like the sound of it!
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RegencyBlue added 13:35 - May 8 Wake me if he signs. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!
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TimmyH added 14:25 - May 8 Yep young hungry players are what we need but must admit don't know alot about him, but as other posters have mentioned get used to numerous 'linked' players in the next few months, I wonder how many young players we'll actually sign.
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Ipswichbusiness added 15:07 - May 8 Oh dear; according to my paper this morning, Emile Heskey has been released by Villa and is a free agent ...
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BudapestByBlimp added 16:31 - May 8 radiogaga added 13:19 - May 8 We would be crackers not to sign Jacobs! I agree but I think we'll be margarinelly edged out by another jammy club. Alright, I'll leave now, sorry.
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ArnieMsBigToe added 16:37 - May 8 I am hoping that PJ and ME can push the boat out on this one. The reason being, if we get a good young player to sign early on, this may well get other targets to think, mmm, maybe ITFC do mean business!! Also, agree with everyone that has already stated the blee***g obvious. GK, CB and midfield player who can make things happen
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