Town are reported to have failed in another loan bid for Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte. The Blues first targeted the England U21 international right-back or centre-half last summer.

Boss Joe Royle said recently that he was waiting to hear back from a number of Premiership clubs regarding potential season-long loanees, with Hoyte always understood to be top of his list.

Town were close to bringing in Hoyte on loan at the end of last year's August transfer window but Arsenal's failure to secure the services of Ajax defender Hatem Trabelsi meant Arsene Wenger held on to the 20-year-old as cover for Lauren.

This time around Wenger is apparently keen for Hoyte to go out on loan to a Premiership side rather than a Championship club.

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