Hull City are set to scupper Town's proposed signing of Sunderland striker Daryl Murphy, according to one of Sunday's tabloids. The Blues are also said to be amongst a host of Championship clubs targeting Tottenham's Chris Gunter.
Town are understood to have agreed a fee of £5 million with Sunderland for Murphy and midfielder Dean Whitehead, with the Irishman said to make up £1.2 million of that deal.
Ex-Waterford United man Murphy was believed to be in talks with Town at the end of the week, but Hull boss Phil Brown is reported to have made his move for the Irish international, matching the Blues' fee and offering the player regular Premier League football. The deal is already claimed to be close to completion.
Rumours on Wearside claim that Whitehead will also turn down the chance to join the Blues, which, if true, means manager Roy Keane will have to look elsewhere for both a new striker and a midfield linchpin.
Few big strikers similar to Murphy have been linked this summer, with most of the frontmen the Blues are claimed to be eyeing smaller pacier attackers in the mould of Danny Webber, David Healy or Manchester United youngster Danny Welbeck, who has constantly been rumoured to be a target during the close season.
Elsewhere, Town are said to be one of 10 Championship clubs interested in signing Tottenham's Welsh international defender Chris Gunter. Nottingham Forest and Derby are also believed to be amongst the chasing clubs.
Right-back Gunter came through Cardiff's academy, winning the Football League's Apprentice of the Year award in 2007.
In January 2008, after making only 23 starts and 10 sub appearance for the Bluebirds, Spurs signed him for £3 million.
The Newport-born youngster has failed to make much of an impression on the first team at White Hart Lane and so far has made 12 starts and four sub appearances, only five of those (three starts, two as sub) in the Premier League.
In March the 19-year-old joined Nottingham Forest on loan as Spurs sought to give some of their youngsters Championship experience, including former Town loanee Giovani Dos Santos.
Gunter was capped at U17, U19 and U21 levels and has now won 16 caps for the full side. The 5ft 11in tall defender is yet to score a senior goal in club or international football.
Right-back wouldn't appear to be the area of the side Roy Keane most needs to strengthen with David Wright one of last season's most consistent performers, however, a number of right-sided full-backs have now been reported to be on the Town manager's list of potential signings, including former loanee Danny Simpson and Sunderland's Phil Bardsley.