Town, Derby County and Middlesbrough are all reported to be targeting Peterborough United left midfielder George Boyd. The 24-year-old has just completed a loan spell at Nottingham Forest but is not expected to move to the City Ground on a permanent basis.
Peterborough director of football Barry Fry confirmed that there are clubs chasing the ex-Stevenage Borough man but says no one has yet made an acceptable offer: "The chairman, manager and myself are all agreed that George will not be going anywhere if we don’t receive a bid that matches our valuation of him.
"There are clubs interested in signing him, but so far none have offered us enough to make us want to sell. And, believe me, if that situation does not change George will play for us next season.
"We are all determined to have a real go at getting straight back into the Championship and we will have a better chance with him than without him.”
The Scotland B international has another year left on his Peterborough contract and is valued at £2 million by Posh, having been one of the stars of their side as they climbed from League Two to the Championship before this season’s relegation. He has said he will not sign new terms at London Road.
Boyd, 6ft 1in tall, joined Peterborough from Stevenage in January 2007 for £265,000, Town having been one of a number of Football League clubs reported to have been keeping an eye on him during his time at Broadhall Way. Chatham-born Boyd had moved to Boro, for whom he also had a spell playing as a striker, in 2001 after leaving Charlton’s youth set-up.
Forest are understood to have paid £500,000 to take Boyd, who qualifies to play for Scotland via his grandfather, to the City Ground on loan in March, but he made only five starts and one sub appearance for the Tricky Trees. Boyd has made 157 starts and six sub appearances for the Posh, scoring 43 goals.
Middlesbrough are reported to have confirmed their interest in the ex-England National Game international (non-league England side) last month, while Blues boss Roy Keane has said he is looking to strengthen his left-sided options over the summer.