Town are continuing to chase Preston North End defender Sean St Ledger, according to some of this morning’s tabloids. On Tuesday the Blues were reported to have been quoted a fee of £2.5 million for the Irish international.
Owner and chairman Marcus Evans showed his willingness to hand new boss Paul Jewell significant transfer cash earlier in the week when a deal understood to be well in excess of £1 million was agreed with Swindon for Charlie Austin, the striker ultimately joining Burnley after Town were unable to agree personal terms.
Evans would probably not stretch to paying as much as £2.5 million for St Ledger but at 26 the centre-half, who is rated as one of the best defenders outside the Premier League, is likely to have a future resale value.
Preston would in reality probably accept a figure somewhat lower than the one quoted earlier in the week, despite St Ledger being under contract until 2012.
Having progressed through the youth system at Peterborough, St Ledger went on loan to Stevenage Borough in 2004.
After making the breakthrough at Posh, the Birmingham-born defender joined Preston in July 2006 for a fee of £225,000.
St Ledger moved to Middlesbrough on loan at the start of last season, having impressed in his time at Deepdale. The short-term spell was expected to turn into a £4 million permanent switch but the 5ft 11in tall defender failed to settle in the North-East and returned to Preston.
Qualifying to play for Ireland via his grandfather from Carlow, St Ledger has won 16 full caps and has scored two goals.
Continuing reports that the Blues are looking to move for an experienced right-sided central defender are likely to increase speculation that Gareth McAuley’s time at Town might be close to coming to an end.
The Northern Irishman, whose current Blues contract is up in the summer, turned down Town’s initial offer of a two-year deal before Christmas, with SPL giants Rangers having been interested in signing the 31-year-old last summer but failing to match the club’s valuation.
McAuley and skipper David Norris were due to speak to new boss Paul Jewell regarding their futures towards the end of last week. The January transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday night.