TWTD understands that Town are again looking to sign Nottingham Forest striker Dele Adebola. Chief scout Steve McCall and new coach Ian McParland were spotted watching the Nigerian in action at St Andrew’s on Tuesday as Forest were defeated 1-0 by Birmingham in the FA Cup.
The 34-year-old, previously tracked by Jim Magilton during his time as manager, joined Billy Davies’s club on a free transfer from Bristol City in the summer, having been named the Robins’ Player of the Year last season after scoring 10 goals. The 6ft 3in tall frontman turned down a new one-year deal at Ashton Gate to sign a two-year contract at the City Ground.
Since then the Lagos-born striker has been seen as a squad player, making nine starts and 16 sub appearances, scoring three goals. Forest currently have a surfeit of strikers and may well be willing to agree to either a permanent deal or a loan until the end of the season.
Adebola was brought up in Liverpool, having moved to England as a child, and as a youngster played in the same representative sides as Robbie Fowler.
A graduate of Crewe’s famous youth set-up, he made his senior debut for the Railwaymen in 1992/93 as a 17-year-old, subsequently spending time on loan at Bangor City and Northwich Victoria.
Birmingham ended Adebola’s stay at Gresty Road in 1998 when a £1 million fee took him to St Andrew’s. Having been on loan at Oldham during his time with the Midlanders, he joined Crystal Palace in 2002 on a free transfer.
After a year at Selhurst Park, Adebola moved on to Coventry on a free transfer, during which time Jim Magilton repeatedly attempted to bring him to Portman Road.
Spells on loan at Bradford and Burnley were followed by a permanent move to Bristol City in January 2008.
Adebola came close to winning caps with Nigeria earlier in his career having been named in their provisional squad for the African Nations Cup in 2000, but failing to make the cut.
Northern Ireland had previously been interested in recruiting him via the rule which allows players born outside the UK with British passports to play for any of the home nations, but Adebola declined the offer.
Meanwhile, defender Alex Bruce says he is disappointed that Bryan Klug is leaving the club, as revealed by TWTD last night: "We worked together for four years and had some great times. I owe a lot to him. You speak as you find and he was always very good to me."
Hungarian reports continue to link the Blues, Sheffield United, Coventry and Plymouth with left winger Peter Halmosi. The Hull midfielder was previously mentioned in connection with the Blues late last month.
Town are amongst a number of English clubs being linked with Republic of Ireland U16 international striker Michael Drennan. Aston Villa are said to be favourites to sign the Kilkenny-based youngster with the Blues, Manchester City and Sunderland also believed to be interested.
Elsewhere, former Blue Shefki Kuqi’s move from German side Koblenz to Swansea is reported to have broken down due to the Finnish international’s agent’s demands.
Swans chairman Huw Jenkins said: "[Manager] Paulo [Sousa] was keen on Kuqi, but I looked into that option and sometimes what is demanded comes nowhere near what we are prepared to offer. As things stand, the move is not going to happen."
Ex-Town boss George Burley is reported to have spoken to Kilmarnock regarding their manager’s job, but the role is said to have been offered to former Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood.