Boss Joe Royle has confirmed that Town are keen to sign Waterford United striker Daryl Murphy, if the money is available in the summer. Murphy impressed the Portman Road management in his second trial spell earlier this week.

Royle said: “We can't do a deal at the moment. We would have to wait until the end of the season.

"Quite honestly, it's down to cash. In a perfect financial climate we would have just taken him."

Promotion to the Premiership would give Royle the necessary funds to bring in the Irish U21 international, while a high profile departure could provide the £100,000 required, should the Blues remain in the Championship.

Striker Darren Bent has already indicated that the summer might be the right time to move on if Town don't go up. The Blues turned down a £3 million bid from Charlton for the England U21 international last summer and would hope to achieve a fee of at least that amount if he were to leave at the end of this season.

Other clubs have also shown an interest in former Luton trainee Murphy, with reports in Ireland claiming he recently had a trial with Sunderland. Royle admits that serious interest from elsewhere could scupper the switch: "There's always the danger that another club could move in for him, but we are in no position to do anything at the moment."

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