Town are reportedly ready to up their offer to Cardiff City for Michael Chopra to just over £4 million. Last week, the Blues increased their bid to £3.75 million, but the Bluebirds are believed to want to at least match the £4 million fee they paid Sunderland for the 26-year-old a year ago.
Chopra played for manager Roy Keane at Sunderland and the Newcastle-born striker is the Blues boss’s number one target this summer. Keane hopes to pair Chopra, who scored 21 goals for Cardiff during 2009/10, with Connor Wickham next season.
The Bluebirds are understood to be lining up Swindon’s Charlie Austin to replace Chopra once Town have made an offer they find acceptable.
Austin, 20, was linked with the Blues in December, during a hugely impressive first season as a professional with the defeated League One play-off finalists.