Town manager has denied that Southampton's Chris Baird is his defensive loan target. Royle has also dismissed a number of other names discussed on the TWTD Message Board over the weekend.

Baird was one of several names suggested on the Message Board as the player the Blues want to bring to Portman Road on a season-long loan and was subsequently claimed to be the target in a local newspaper.

However, Royle says his target's name was not amongst those mentioned: "It is not Baird, Huth, Johnson or Clichy - but beyond that I am not prepared to say very much.

"The player's identity is not out in the open yet and to be perfectly honest I would be happy if it stayed that way until the deal is finalised.

"We have made no approach for Baird and as for players like Huth, Johnson and Clichy, they are all going to be registered for the Champions League and would be out of our reach.

"There are still one or two things to be cleared up.

"I am not interested in getting involved in a yes-no interlude. I just want to get it all sorted before we go public with it."

Baird's fellow Southampton full-back Stephen Crainey, 23, has also been suggested as a potential season-long loanee.

Young Dutch striker or midfielder Quincy is claimed to be a possible Town loan target by some Arsenal sources.

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