Yesterday's news that Sunderland have released Republic of Ireland full-back Ian Harte has perhaps unsurprisingly led to tabloid reports linking the Blues and Norwich City with the 30-year-old.
Harte was first linked with the Blues and the Canaries last month having been transfer-listed by boss Roy Keane, after making only three starts and five sub appearances since joining the Black Cats last summer.
Capped 64 times by the Republic of Ireland, scoring 11 goals, Harte was a product of Dublin youth side Home Farm which also produced Owen Garvan, Shane Supple, Michael Synnott and Alan Lee, and where Garvan's father Gerry is a coach.
Harte moved to Leeds in 1995 and made 270 starts and 18 sub appearances while at Elland Road, scoring 39 goals, before joining Spanish side Levante on a Bosman in the summer of 2004. After four seasons with the Valencia-based club he was released at the end of last season.
Harte is best known by Town fans for his dive which led to Marcus Stewart receiving a red card during the Blues' 2-1 defeat to Leeds back in 2000/01.