Town are targeting Belgian international midfielder Faris Haroun, according to reports in his home country. The 25-year-old is currently with Germinal Beerschot but the Antwerp-based top flight side are looking to offload some of their higher earners this summer.
Fellow Belgians Zulte Waregem are also believed to be interested in the Brussels-born player, who scored five goals in 28 matches during 2010/11.
Haroun, who also holds a Chadian passport, played youth football with RSD Jette and RWD Molenbeek but began his professional career with KRC Genk, making his senior bow in the 2003/04 season.
The 6ft 2in tall midfielder, who is reportedly keen on a move to England, joined his current club ahead of the 2008/09 season, having been a member of Belgium’s Olympic side in Beijing, where he narrowly missed out on a medal. The U23 team, which also included Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen and Everton’s Marouane Fellaini, lost the third/fourth play-off to Brazil.
Haroun has been capped six times by his country at full level and has a year remaining on his Germinal Beerschot contract.
Town are known to be eyeing the Belgian market with a scout reported to have watched the recent Anderlecht-Club Brugge clash.
Meanwhile, Porto manager Andre Villas-Boas paid tribute to former Blues boss Sir Bobby Robson after his side's 1-0 Europa League final victory over Braga last night: "I dedicate this win to my technical staff, the players of Porto and the supporters. But I'd like to pay a complement to Pep Guardiola, which might come as a surprise, and to Jose Mourinho.
"He [Mourinho] introduced me to professional football, and I'd like to dedicate this to him. And to someone who has already left us, but was decisive in my career: Sir Bobby Robson. I never had the opportunity to say farewell to him. I'd like to dedicate this to him and his wife, Elsie, and thank him for everything he's done for me.
"Bobby allowed a 16-year-old to approach him and talk about football tactics with him. Then he took me to training, watching training sessions. He had that respect for a young boy who had just approached him in an apartment block in Porto.''
Legendary Blues manager Robson was Porto boss between 1994 and 1996.