Icelandic striker Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson could be a Town target come the opening of the transfer window in January. The Blues watched the Halmstad frontman in action for the Swedish club in the UEFA Cup against Linfield in Belfast last week.

The 6ft tall striker joined Halmstad from Hermann Hreidarsson's old Icelandic side IBV Vestmannaeyjar last September for £45,000. This Swedish season - which runs through the summer - Thorvaldsson has become their main goalscorer, netting 16 goals in 28 games in all competitions, including the first in Halmstad's 4-2 defeat of Linfield.

Capped four times by Iceland, Thorvaldsson has 15 months left on his contract at Halmstad and looks certain to move on before it ends. Prior to signing with the Swedish side, he was a part-timer and worked in a fish factory.

Thorvaldsson's agent Olafur Gardarsson told TWTD he knows of a number of English sides keeping an eye on the 23-year-old and Ipswich's interest would not come as a surprise: "I'm aware that a number of Championship clubs have watched him and someone could try to sign him in July at least, perhaps even in January.

"There are a couple of clubs definitely interested but I can't tell you which clubs they are."

Gardarsson, who is also Hreidarsson's agent, says Thorvaldsson has made great strides during his time in Sweden and Halmstad will hope to achieve a fee for him when he leaves, probably in the region of £200-£300,000. Described as a goal-poacher in the Kevin Phillips mould, Reading have also been linked by the Icelandic press.

The Icelander was not the player Town were close to signing prior to the end of the transfer window, paying a fee is currently beyond the club's meagre budget. However, the Blues were in a similar position this time last year but, come the middle of the season, healthy attendances and a reasonably attractive FA Cup draw against Bolton helped the club find £250,000 to bring Darren Currie to Portman Road.

Thorvaldsson, who has scored one international goal, along with Hreidarsson is in the Iceland squad facing Croatia in Reykjavik on Saturday.

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