Town have shown interest in Barnsley striker Chris O’Grady, according to reports in South Yorkshire. The 28-year-old netted the now-relegated Tykes’ first goal in February’s 2-2 draw between the sides at Oakwell.

Nottingham-born O’Grady started his career with Leicester and has subsequently spent time with Notts County (loan), Rushden and Diamonds (loan), Rotherham, Oldham, Bury (loan), Bradford (loan), Stockport (loan), Rochdale and then Sheffield Wednesday before joining Barnsley last summer for a reported £300,000 following a successful loan.

The 6ft 1in tall frontman scored 15 goals as the Tykes dropped out of the Championship during 2013/14, having netted 12 times during the previous campaign.

O’Grady has another year left on his contract at Oakwell and would cost a fee, which is likely to rule the Blues out of the running for his signature unless someone, such as Aaron Cresswell, is sold for a significant fee this summer.

Meanwhile, the Blues are understood to have kept tabs 22-year-old Rochdale striker or winger Scott Hogan, who scored 19 goals during 2013/14.

Like O’Grady, Hogan is contracted for another year and would certainly be beyond Town’s means unless someone is sold.

Salford-born Hogan, who started his career at Spotland before returning to Dale last summer after a spell in non-league, failed to agree personal terms with Peterborough in January after the clubs were reported to have agreed a £1 million fee. Wolves are also believed to be interested.

Elsewhere, Yeovil boss Gary Johnson says right-back Luke Ayling, who was recently linked with the Blues and Brentford, could stay at Huish Park, despite his contract with the relegated Glovers being up this summer.

"Luke Ayling is under 24 so whoever takes him will have to pay compensation, so I still see him in my head as still being with us unless a deal is done, which is good," Johnson told the Western Gazette.

Town were also claimed to have shown interest in Yeovil centre-half Byron Webster, who is also out of contract, along with Leeds United.

Photo: Action Images

Luka added 20:34 - May 7 Swap Taylor with him?
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kizaitfc added 20:35 - May 7 Please no, very much passed it, his goal against us was very good but overall he is an average player And compared to the strikers we have doesn't even compete imho
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Keaneish added 20:55 - May 7 Knew this would surface after his performance against us. Not for me. A bit too awkward and unorthodox at times and would no doubt invite more launches from back to front bypassing midfield.
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Luka added 21:00 - May 7 My swap Taylor remark - Only if MM sees that he is worth it. Money would be better spent in my opinion
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manualthetisfanclub added 21:05 - May 7 How c##p is this!being linked to journeyman players,no disrespect to him and cannot afford a fee!even if nominal because we are skint. Sad state of affairs,but that's the harsh reality of championship football or the football league in general. In Mick we trust,he did well last summer to get in what he did and we progressed so hopefully he can pull out a couple or four quality signings to help us get to the promised land!

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ArnieM added 21:18 - May 7 Get used to countless links and rumours over the next 3 months. Agents doing their jobs. Mm had probably already long since identified his targets. Not that we'll know until the player has had his medical!
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billlm added 21:41 - May 7 to me not parting with very little money in fees last year and same rumblings this year is very worrying. before you all jump im aware of wages and the ffp but even by todays standards fees still pass hands, hopefully the odd rumour of in more trouble than we seem is not true
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StuartBrett8 added 21:47 - May 7 We need to give up on the 'Nouble Experiment' and get genuine goalscorers at this level.
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Tractorog added 21:52 - May 7 Guys! Guys! Calm down. At what point last year did we learn of most of Mick's signings? He plays his cards close to his chest.
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Umros added 23:23 - May 7 Have we enough links for a chain yet?
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algarvefan added 23:58 - May 7 When we've sold Creswell (as we will) and Marcus Evans has pocketed the cash, there will still be bugger all left to spend!! it's depressing that we are now raiders of relegated sides
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theblueginger added 00:35 - May 8 Why do people have this myth that anyone from a relegated side is hopeless?! Our POTS was signed from recently relegated Wolves was he not? As for OGrady, decent at this level, nothing more nothing less.
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BlueSwede added 07:48 - May 8 There are a lot of decent players in the relegated sides as well, players who will do well in other teams. And why is it so that we think that every player who isn't out of contract is "beyond Town's means"? Who - other than Marcus Evans and MM i would think - knows what kind of money the club is prepared to spend?
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blueherts added 08:07 - May 8 Well some interesting comments on here as usual - A player who scores 15 goals and a striker who scores 19 and 'they are no better than what we have' well I am sorry but outside of Dids and Murph - we do not exactly have a 'prolific option' Oh sorry forgot we have Nouble . There are some good players in the lower divisions and MM has found them before - Vardy did not do too bad at Leicester either , or Le Fondre , Lambert etc etc So get real people - Which players are we going to attract with no large transfer budgets and a team mid table in the Championship ? Premiership players ? wake up some of you I would be delighted if we took a player like Hogan , Jennings from Barnsley , Wilson at Coventry and there are few more worth looking at . I would be happy with a happy young striker / midfielder from lower leagues who scores !!

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Cambonbleu added 09:35 - May 8 This makes me nervous - am I the only person thinking 'Kevin Lisbie take 2'?!
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pazelle added 09:43 - May 8 Wow, Scott Hogan would be great, I've been hoping we were aware of him.
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SouperJim added 09:47 - May 8 blueherts is sport on, linked with two players who scored 34 goals between them last season and straight away we have a collection of armchair managers saying they're not good enough for us. Delusional.
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mroberts added 11:21 - May 8 Marcus Evans needs to understand that if he want's Ipswich to progress out of the championship he needs to spend money. Look what Burnley managed to do on a very small budget. Free transfers don't get you very far as we found out this season. They a free for a reason.
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maninashed added 11:47 - May 8 Free transfers are usually players out of contract, and they are not free. Signing on and agents fees are anything but zero. The club they are leaving just get nothing. The players walk, just like players have left us in the past. If you want Marcus to spend more money why don't you send him a few grand or sponsor the dug-out.
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Seasider added 15:32 - May 8 When Mr Evans took over,our then Chairman David Sheepshanks gave the impression that this would be our salvation;so wouldn't always have to be selling club. This may have been so initially;but excluding the two seasons in administration the £20,000 approx in transfer fees is lowest paid out for over 30 years!!! If the club is so impoverished how on earth can the Manager be expected to obtain players of sufficient standard to win the Championship,or even get in play offs,and please dont say FFP or agents,signing on fees of which I am well aware.These after all have been going on for years now and the players were always paid even in the 1970's and 80's

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Philip added 17:08 - May 8 It begins...
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Town4me added 18:30 - May 8 Well i thought he has looked pretty good this season, scored some great goals. I'd give him a go
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truthhurts added 19:34 - May 8 As a footnote....... Gerken Chambers Berra Skuse Murphy McGoldrick Anderson (in a swap deal) All the above (and there maybe more?) came in on 'free' transfers (in terms of fee). Surely some quality there!! Just because you run your contract down doesn't make you a bad player. Imagine how much this lot would cost if we have to pay transfer fees! Spent a few seasons spending relatively big bucks. How well did that work!? A bit of reality please

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rambohambo added 21:36 - May 8 Truthhurts - your spot on we would be looking at learst 5 mill min on those players
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mrmorisato added 18:32 - May 10 Who knows who will end up in a town shirt next season. I trust Mick's judgement regardless of the names being linked with the club over the summer like last year Mick acted quickly in bringing in new faces so I hope he does the same this time. One thing is certain he needs new faces in the midfield if town are going to mount a decent promotion push next season.
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