Town are reportedly set to make a move for Bournemouth central defender Jason Pearce. The 23-year-old, who could cost around £700,000, is also understood to be interesting Burnley and Barnsley, while Peterborough were very close to a deal earlier in the week.
Hillingdon-born Pearce came through the youth system at Portsmouth but failed to make a senior appearance for Pompey.
During his time at Fratton Park the 6ft 1½in tall centre-half spent time on loan at Woking before joining Bournemouth on a free transfer in August 2007.
Since then Pearce has established himself as a key member of the Bournemouth side as they have progressed from League Two strugglers to League One play-off semi-finalists. In January 2010 he was named the Cherries’ first team captain.
Contracted until 2013, Peterborough appeared to be close to a £500,000 deal for Pearce last week until Bournemouth discovered that the previous Dean Court regime which had signed him from Portsmouth had agreed to a 50% sell-on clause which scuppered the switch.
Current Bournemouth chairman Eddie Mitchell turned down a bid for one of his players yesterday but it’s unclear whether Pearce was the target: "It is so far adrift [of the Cherries’ valuation], it is really not worth mentioning.”
Meanwhile, there seems to be little progress on the Connor Wickham front with the 18-year-old striker having flown to Denmark with the England squad for the UEFA European U21 Championship yesterday.
Wickham is understood to have been the subject of an £8 million offer from Liverpool at the end of last week but despite speculation in some quarters that a deal is done, that currently appears not to be the case.
The Blues are believed to have turned down the bid as it stands but there has been no official comment from either club regarding the proposed move.
Elsewhere, released Reading centre-half Ivar Ingimarsson continues to be linked with the Blues with his friend and ex-Blue Hermann Hreidarsson believing he would be a good signing for his old club: "He knows the league and has won the Championship with Reading. He won’t be shy — he’s a real leader of men. Ivar certainly ticks all the right boxes.”
Last night the Blues were reported to have made an offer for Preston central defender Sean St Ledger, while Sunderland's Nyron Nosworthy is also on Paul Jewell's list of potential signings.