A tabloid newspaper claims Town and Norwich City are battling it out to take Charlton central defender Osei Sankofa on loan. The 20-year-old is an England international at U16, U18 and U19 level.

Sankofa made his only Premiership appearance as a substitute away against Manchester United in 2003. Last season the Londoner was out of action for much of the time due to a knee injury.

Boss Joe Royle said last week that he has turned his attention towards bringing in a loan striker and perhaps a midfielder to replace Ian Westlake while he is out injured, therefore it seems unlikely that the Blues are targeting another defender.

However, the 2002/03 FA Youth Cup semi-finalist may well have been a player Town considered prior to the capture of Jay McEveley. The Blackburn defender made his Town debut in the 2-0 defeat at Sheffield United having joined on a season-long loan two weeks ago.

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