Town are reported to have made an enquiry to Arsenal regarding the loan availability of central defender Kyle Bartley. The Blues are amongst a number of sides interested in the 20-year-old, who has just signed a new contract with the Gunners.

Bartley, who has also played at right-back, began his career with Bolton Wanderers but moved on to Arsenal in 2007 while still a youth player with Manchester City also having shown interest.

The England U16 and U17 international made his senior debut for the Gunners in a Champions League tie at Olympiacos in December 2009 but is yet to add to his competitive appearances for Arsene Wenger’s side, although he netted an own goal in Sunday’s Emirates Cup defeat to the New York Red Bulls.

A team-mate of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas in Arsenal’s 2009 FA Youth Cup-winning side, Bartley spent the final few months of 2009/10 on loan at Sheffield United, rejoining the Blades at the start of last season.

After the relegation-bound South Yorkshiremen signed Neill Collins from Leeds in January, Bartley decided to move on, joining SPL giants Rangers for the second half of the season. He scored one goal in a nine-game spell which was cut short by a knee ligament injury.

Rangers, however, were impressed with what they saw of the 6ft 3in tall defender and are keen for the Manchester-born player to return to Ibrox this season.

Burnley, Crystal Palace and plenty of other Championship clubs are also believed to be interested in addition to Town, while there may also be Premier League sides ready to offer Bartley the chance to gain experience in the top flight.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who is understood to be a fan of Blues manager Paul Jewell, is keen for Bartley to go out on another loan, presumably at as high a level as possible.

A right-sided central defender is very much on Jewell’s wish list to compete with Ívar Ingimarsson for the role alongside Damien Delaney or Tommy Smith. Slovenian target Aljaž Struna is primarily a right-back, although also operates in the centre of the defence and at right midfield.

Photo: Action Images

Priskinftw added 17:28 - Aug 3 Quality Center Back, will improve our defence alot.
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Sindre94 added 17:29 - Aug 3 GREAT! a good mate of mine is an arsenal fan and hes been telling me that wenger is prepared to try him out in the first 11 this season, so I kinda doubt well get him
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MarkITFC added 17:30 - Aug 3 Hope fully us having JET will get him here . get JET to have a word with him ..
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alexsmith111 added 17:31 - Aug 3 Only area of the pitch we dont have back up so both would be ideal
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simoitfc added 17:31 - Aug 3 Wow the rumors cuming in thick and fast now lv it.cant wait to c who we start with sat
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jert16 added 17:34 - Aug 3 hmmm
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gloucester_tractor added 17:37 - Aug 3 we have a quality 11 so any thing we add now will be top dog PJ wont settle for second best Just a couple of non competivie areas that need dealing with Bristol here we come
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TractorMan added 17:39 - Aug 3 Scored lovely own goal at the weekend....
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Turner_Blue added 17:49 - Aug 3 Great Young Centre-back! Would be great, but can't see it happening if what 'sindre94' says is true. I'm sure he'd much rather challenge for a place at Arsenal. :) but wud be a great addition. COYB!!! :) :)
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Essex_Tractor added 18:01 - Aug 3 If the 3 rumoured signings do come off (and Considering JET can play on both wings) PJ will have brought in a new player for every position - proves just how poor a side he felt we had!
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SamWhiteUK added 18:26 - Aug 3 Didn't think arsenal had enough centerbacks to let one go, would imagine this one would be another with a recall clause
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robdaful added 18:36 - Aug 3 Would be great. Come on JET get your mate here.
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Guthrum added 19:08 - Aug 3 Wenger is a fan of Paul Jewell? That says something! Good stuff!
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Pip50 added 19:15 - Aug 3 Can we stop being linked and get another central defender sorted so we can get two up top......it's four four ffkin two in the immortal words of Mike Bassett
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jas0999 added 20:18 - Aug 3 Would be an excellent addition to the squad.
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Lightningboy added 20:24 - Aug 3 I hope we're not going to rely to heavily on the loan market this season..it's been our downfall in recent years with the odd exception..too many players coming and going these days..would like to see a settled team over the next few seasons.
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up_the_town4 added 22:35 - Aug 3 Would be an excellent signing arsenal don't produce crap players through there youth team and he'd have a point to proove!
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DiamondGezzer added 06:09 - Aug 4 He's a big boy for his mum, oh, and a quality player also !
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:59 - Aug 4 Priskinftw: That should be: "Quality Center Back, 'would' [not 'will'] improve our defence alot." I'm not too optimistic about this one coming off, but I hope I'm wrong.
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saffronblue added 09:03 - Aug 4 This would be an excellent move for us and could be the last piece of the jigsaw to make up a very strong championship team. Not sure it will happen but fingers crossed. Not getting too excited about the other guy until I have seen him play a few games at this level although presumably we have scouted him for a few games and seen some potential. Not sure what the fixation with 4-4-2 is. Man U aside not many teams play this formation any more and the flexible 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation is certainly the favorite in most leagues, Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona et al.

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MarkeiboiITFC added 12:44 - Aug 4 My Uncle is a Rangers fan and he was brilliant for them last season according to him and Rangers wanted him back on loan to them but Wenger said he wanted him in his first team, so I doubt we will get him but you never know
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gloucester_tractor added 07:43 - Aug 5 Gone back to rangers
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