Blackpool midfielder Wes Hoolahan is the latest player to be linked with a January move to the Blues. The 25-year-old has impressed since the Seasiders' promotion to the Championship in the summer.

The silky-skilled left winger began his career in his native Ireland with Shelbourne with whom he won three Eircom League titles and played in the Champions League. He was named the PFAI Young Player of the Year in 2003.

The Irish U21 international, 5ft 7in tall, moved on to Scottish side Livingston in January 2006 but after only 19 appearances at Almondvale joined Blackpool on loan the following summer, where he was an integral part of their promotion-winning team.

Hoolahan signed a permanent two-year deal with Blackpool in the summer, however, Livingston refused to complete the paperwork relating to his move, claiming Blackpool had breached the terms of the previous loan agreement on several occasions.

With the Seasiders denying the accusations, the matter was eventually referred to FIFA, who ruled with Blackpool, although they are yet to decide whether a fee is due to the Scottish club.

Hoolahan, who has now made 64 starts and nine sub appearances for Blackpool scoring 14 goals, recently played alongside Alex Bruce and Jon Walters for the Irish B side in the friendly with Scotland and was an unused sub for the full international side in their game with Greece in 2002.

Sheffield United were recently reported to be ready to pay £500,000 for the Dubliner when the January transfer window opens.

Meanwhile, David Norris and Rob Jones are once again being linked with Town now that Jim Magilton is guaranteed a £12 million player budget ahead of the transfer window.

Norris, whose Plymouth deal is up in the summer of 2009, has been linked with a number of other Championship clubs and could interest his former manager Ian Holloway, now at Leicester City.

Southampton had a £1 million bid turned down in the summer, but are unlikely to be in a position to buy players when the window opens.

Town also targeted the all-action midfielder in the summer, but were rebuffed with then-manager Holloway unimpressed that Jim Magilton had made his interest public.

Shortly before Holloway's departure, Plymouth told Norris that they would offer him a new deal in January, but would inform him of any offers which came in.

Town chairman David Sheepshanks confirmed yesterday that the Blues would be looking to recruit "two or three" players during the transfer window.

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