Former Town midfielder Kieron Dyer is understood to have been released by newly-relegated West Ham with his lucrative contract up at the end of the season. The 32-year-old spent a month on loan with the Blues towards the end of 2010/11 and could well end up returning to his hometown club on a permanent basis during the close season.
Speaking in March, Dyer said that a summer move to Portman Road could be amongst his options: "I’m not boasting or bragging, but I’m in a very fortunate situation in that whatever my decision is — whether it be to go abroad and try something different, come home or go to another Championship club or try America — it’ll come down to a family point of view and from a footballing standpoint.
"It’s the love of the game and wanting to play the game that’s driving me on. When you’re injured, you want to get back on the pitch and get that buzz of playing. That’s what gets you through.
"I’m not in football for the financial point of the game. Whatever my decision is in the summer it’s purely going to be on football and my family, which is a good position to be in. I’ll have to have a break in the summer and take it from there.”
After Dyer returned to West Ham at the end of his initial month, Blues boss Paul Jewell confirmed that he would consider moving for the ex-Newcastle man if he became available: "We spoke at length, me and Kieron, and I spoke to West Ham on Friday morning to see if we could extend [the loan].
"That’s his club and he has to go back and if things change in the summer we would be interested.”
Given the former England man’s injury history — he managed only one start and three sub appearances in his loan spell and subsequently picked up a knock in the Hammers’ reserves which prevented any further games - a much-reduced contract based on a pay-as-you-play basis may well be on the cards.
Premier League Everton have also been mentioned in connection with a move for Dyer, while there have been rumours of interest from clubs in the Middle East.
Suffolk-born defender Matthew Upson is also believed to have been told he can leave Upton Park with his terms also up this summer.