Stoke City are again reported to be weighing up a move for Town skipper Jon Walters. The Potters were strongly linked with the 26-year-old in August 2008 but despite making an enquiry and reports claiming multiple bids, no offer was ever made.
Peter Reid, Stoke’s assistant manager, was at Portman Road on Sunday to watch the Republic of Ireland B international in action, having been at St James' Park for the Newcastle match the previous week, with a £4 million bid said to be in the offing.
Walters, who is contracted to the Blues until 2012, became Town’s skipper earlier in the season with manager Roy Keane a big fan.
Last week Keane hinted that the club might have received some interest in the former Bolton and Blackburn trainee: "I think Jon Walters has been amazing this year, his captaincy has been excellent and he’s been a joy to work with - his leadership skills in the dressing room when we were under the cosh and last weekend, aside from his goal, he was outstanding.
"There will be plenty of clubs — there are already — who would be keen to take Jon Walters.
”I’m not going to kid myself that I’ll just be bringing players in, I’m going to have hard work keeping some of our players.”
Town signed Walters for £100,000 plus extras which would ultimately take the deal to £200,000 from Chester City in January 2007. Chester would have been entitled to 20% of any sell-on had the club not gone out of business earlier in the season.