Town are targeting Notts County’s attacking midfielder Alan Judge. The 23-year-old Irishman won the Magpies’ Players' Player of the Year and Fans' Player of the Year awards during a 2011/12 campaign in which they narrowly missed out on the League One play-offs.

Dubliner Judge started his career with Blackburn but made his first team debut against the Blues while on loan at Plymouth Argyle in January 2009, a game which ended 0-0, having made two cup appearances for Rovers.

The former Irish U21 international spent two temporary spells at Home Park, where he played under Town legend Paul Mariner, before moving to Meadow Lane initially on loan in August 2010. He made the switch permanent the following January for an undisclosed fee when he signed a deal until the summer of 2013.

Judge plays mainly in wide roles but can operate all across the midfield and up front. Since joining Notts County he has made 64 starts and five sub appearances, scoring nine goals, eight of them last season. Championship scouts were reportedly regular visitors to Meadow Lane to catch him in action towards the end of the 2011/12 campaign as the Magpies finished seventh on goal difference.

His diminutive stature, he’s 5ft 6½in tall, energetic style of play and long-range goals have led Magpies fans to don T-shirts bearing the legend ‘The Irish Messi' in his honour.

Last week, County manager Keith Curle said his club had started negotiations with Judge regarding a new contract, however, with interest from Championship clubs such as the Blues, the £600,000-rated midfielder would appear unlikely to commit to new terms with the League One side.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

Plums added 15:45 - May 22 seen him a couple of times this season. Definitely a good quality player, right age, works hard and scores regular goals. would be a good signing. He's not the biggest by any means but at his height, you don't get pro terms unless there's significant talent. He'll be a big loss to Notts.
0

irishtim added 16:15 - May 22 Danny Shittu on a free?? Wud he be worth a gamble??
0

Lanky added 16:30 - May 22 Quality player.. on FIFA anyway.
0

Jesney_Havoc added 17:25 - May 22 Yada yada yada....... 1) central defender 2) gk 3) any other luxuries such as this. Place in the side already taken
0

riley26 added 17:51 - May 22 Ramage and Fitz Hall released by QPR, expect to see them linked soon...
0

chopschipsallin added 18:21 - May 22 great so we are signing midgets now
0

TractorBoy666 added 18:31 - May 22 This was on the back of the East Anglia Times. The Notts County fans call him the 'Irish Messi'. Speculation that we've made a 500K bid for the lad with others also interested.
0

BigginBlue added 19:09 - May 22 I wonder how long it will be before we see the story..."town linked with didier drogba" can we not just focus on a few top quality players instead of 50 players in places we don't need.
0

Pique added 19:18 - May 22 While I'm encouraged that we're looking at young talent from the lower leagues, am I the only one who's a bit bemused by this one? Wouldn't have thought right mid/ in the hole-type player is a massive priority at the moment, what with us having Martin, JET, Carson, and even Edwards. Plus he's another midget! Don't get me wrong, I'm sure he's decent and I applaud the instinct. It's just...is this 500k's worth of a priority right now? Happy to be proved wrong though.

0

Steelmonkey added 19:29 - May 22 Yawn.........................
0

TimmyH added 20:00 - May 22 Yep could be the right sort of player we should be looking at....looks versatile and probably no doubt hungry to move on after County missing out narrowly.
0

Talbs77 added 20:17 - May 22 Can someone tell me why we are going for so many wingers???!! From what I was watching last season the wings wern't the problem, conceding 100000000 goals was!!!!!!
0

TimmyH added 20:26 - May 22 @Talbs77 - yes in the case of this player that's true, it just seems we are being linked with anybody who can mildly get a round object about at present. Come August I wonder how many players we would have signed or will it be a case of panicking before the season gets under way?
0

Talbs77 added 20:51 - May 22 Cheers TimmyH, I dont want to sound too negative I just get tired of us constantly going for players, never getting them as Clegg will only pay £10.52 an hour and we end up signing players who will soon rival Michael Parkinson trying to sell Pensions with a free parker pen!! This club needs to go for lower league, hungry players aka Drury (ok not 18 but still one of our best players), Cresswell etc

0

BigginBlue added 21:43 - May 22 It's optimistic but instead of all these samish players in the wrong positions, I'd have a stab at two Coker. Granted he may be inclined against it,and his wages will be high, but at only 27 and with no transfer fee required...
0

Tractastic added 00:27 - May 23 Is this part of the Chris Hutchings plan for a stronger spine?
0

Urchin added 07:25 - May 23 Talking of signings - Almunia.....I wonder how much !!!
0

Langdon_Blue added 08:30 - May 23 Urchin - I wondered that too, Almunia is out of contract at the end of June and Arsenal aren't renewing...unless its wages you are thinking about? Apparently West Ham have been 'linked' but surely at 35 he'll want to be number 1 choice?!?
0

Urchin added 09:44 - May 23 Langdon Blue - yes was wages i was thinking of. lives this side of m25 as well so no great upheaval family wise
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls