Town are once again linked with Doncaster Rovers duo Billy Sharp and James Coppinger in this morning’s tabloids. TWTD first mentioned striker Sharp in connection with the Blues when manager Paul Jewell was spotted at their game at Derby in March, while Town’s interest in midfielder Coppinger has been a persistent rumour over the last few days.
According to today’s national reports, the Blues have offered £2 million for Sharp and £600,000 for Coppinger.
Sharp, 25, started his career with hometown club Sheffield United, spending time on loan at Rushden and Diamonds during the second half of 2004/05.
That summer, the 5ft 9in tall frontman moved on to Scunthorpe for £100,000 and it was at Glanford Park where Sharp made his name netting 24 times in his first season and on 32 occasions in his second — the most for the club for 45 years - as he helped the Iron into the League One title.
A return to Bramall Lane followed via a £2 million deal but Sharp’s second spell with the Blades never really got going, his first two seasons yielding six goals apiece.
Doncaster took him on loan a month into 2009/10 and the goals began to flow again, 15 following on from an early season strike for the Blades.
Rovers boss Sean O’Driscoll made the switch a permanent one last summer when paid his club’s South Yorkshire neighbours £1.1 million, the striker signing a three-year deal.
This season, Sharp scored another 16 goals, including two against the Blues in Town’s 3-2 win in January. Overall, Sharp has netted 109 times in 219 starts and 24 sub appearances during his career.
Coppinger, 30, began his footballing life with Darlington but Newcastle United signed him for £250,000 while the Guisborough-born player was still a teenager.
Two loans at Hartlepool followed with a single Premier League game from the bench for the Magpies and an appearance-less spell at QPR in between them.
Coppinger joined Exeter on a free transfer in the summer of 2002 and spent two years at the other St James’ Park before moving on to Doncaster for £30,000 in June 2004. This season the 5ft 7in tall midfielder has scored seven goals but also helped Sharp to many of his.
Over his career, Coppinger, who like Sharp is contracted to Rovers until 2013, has made 359 starts and 53 sub appearances, scoring 52 goals.
Earlier in the week, Rovers defender George Friend was also mentioned in connection with the Blues.
Meanwhile, relegated Preston are reported to be willing to listen to offers for central defender Sean St Ledger with the Blues still believed to be interested in the Republic of Ireland international.
Town had a bid turned down by the Lilywhites in January with manager Paul Jewell unhappy that the matter was made public.
St Ledger, 26, has another year left on his contract at Deepdale and is one of their highest earners. A fee of £1.5 million would probably secure his services. The Blues are on the look-out for an experienced centre-half with Gareth McAuley off to West Brom on a Bosman.
Elsewhere, George Burley has joined Jim Magilton in being linked with the vacant manager's job at Swindon.