QPR left-back Damien Delaney is finally closing in on his move to the Blues, according to a report this morning. TWTD's sister site LoftForWords.co.uk first broke the news that Town were targeting the Republic of Ireland international a month ago.
The Blues and Rangers are said to have agreed a fee of £700,000 for the 27-year-old former Leicester and Hull man with the move unlikely to be completed until QPR boss Jim Magilton is back from a coaching course next week.
Delaney's switch is said to have been held up by the managerial change at Loftus Road which saw former Blues boss Magilton take over from Paulo Sousa. While it appears there is nothing in recent reports claiming that the Northern Irishman would completely scupper the deal, that move and a number of others which were progressing prior to his arrival appear to have been on hold in recent weeks, presumably while he assessed his squad.
Cardiff City are also believed to be interested in Cork-born Delaney, who is well known to Town first team coach Tony Loughlan from his time at Leicester City's academy.
A left-back is clearly a priority for the Town management this summer with Ben Thatcher the only naturally left-sided full-back at the club. Leicester's Joe Mattock has also been linked, while Roy Keane's former Manchester United colleague Quinton Fortune, who these days tends to play as a left-back rather than a winger, is set for a trial in pre-season.
Fortune may be seen as an alternative option should the move for Delaney break down.