West Bromwich Albion have had a bid for central defender Thomas Gaards¢e turned down by the Blues. The bid is understood to have been of a nominal nature and may have been their attempt to discover the current strength of Town's bargaining position.

The Baggies are one of the few Division One clubs with some cash to spare after their recent relegation from the Premiership and are looking to strengthen in order to make a swift return.

With the Blues out of administration and with the sales of Matt Holland and Matteo Sereni complete, the pressing need to sell players which has hung over Portman Road for the last year is no longer there.

However, if reasonable offers were to come in then, like any other club, the Blues would have to consider them, especially if they were for any of the higher earning players.

Gaards¢e, who is out for a month with an ankle injury, was linked with a number of clubs last season including West Ham and Charlton.

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