Connor Wickham has been linked with Newcastle, Tottenham and Liverpool in this morning’s papers and Damien Delaney with Derby County, while former Blue David Johnson has been revealed as the subject of a racist remark made by former Sky and new Talksport presenter Richard Keys.
One of this morning’s tabloids claims the Magpies see Wickham as the replacement for Andy Carroll, a rumour which has been doing the rounds since being mentioned on a radio programme on the final day of the transfer window.
Sources elsewhere claim Spurs are still the frontrunners for Wickham's signature in the summer, while Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish’s trip to watch England’s U19s, apparently to watch the Blues’ 17-year-old striker in action, is also again reported.
Wickham recently signed a new contract with Town aimed at keeping him at the club until June 2013.
Derby County boss Nigel Clough is said to have joined a number of Championship bosses in enquiring about Damien Delaney’s availability. Delaney, who is out of contract at the end of the season, was targeted by Crystal Palace in the transfer window, the Blues turning down a £800,000 joint bid for the Irishman and skipper David Norris. Town boss Paul Jewell has told Delaney he wants him to stay at least until the end of the season.
Elsewhere, one of this morning’s papers has revealed that Richard Keys referred to former Town man David Johnson as a "Choco Jocko” while discussing the striker’s proposed call-up by Scotland in 1999.
Johnson has said he is "very disappointed” by the comments, which have been slammed by anti-racist groups, adding: "If I’d have heard him say that at the time I would have been absolutely furious.”
Keys has denied that he is a racist: "I absolutely refute any suggestion of any racism. This was off-air and 11 years ago and anyone who knows me knows that Ruud Gullit, Dion Dublin and Ian Wright are not only my past associates but some of my best friends.”