Sheffield United’s Matt Lowton is reported to have been the reason for boss Paul Jewell’s trip to watch the Blades in action against Huddersfield on Tuesday, as revealed by TWTD. The Blues are also being linked with a loan move for Manchester City’s Israeli international winger Gai Assulin.
Town have been linked with 22-year-old Lowton since July when Blackpool were also said to be interested. Soon after, the South Yorkshire club were reported to have put a £4 million price tag on the right-back, centre-half or midfielder.
The Blues are said to be targeting the Chesterfield-born player initially on loan but with a view to a permanent deal.
Assulin, who was born in Israel to a Libyan father and a Russian mother, joined Manchester City on a free transfer from Barcelona in August 2010 when some reports rated him at around the £34 million mark.
Israel’s youngest-ever full international, Assulin played youth football in his home country with Hapoel Haifa and Beitar Nes Tubruk before joining the Catalan side’s youth set-up in 2003.
In 2007 the 5ft 10in tall attacking midfielder progressed into the Barcelona B team then run by current first team boss Pep Guardiola.
After a couple of seasons in the B team, one disrupted by a knee injury, Assulin made appearances for the senior side in friendlies and in the Copa del Rey before moving on to City with Arsenal also reported to be interested.
Capped just the one for his country, against Chile in 2008, the 20-year-old is yet to make a first team appearance since moving to England.
A wide midfielder, like a right-back such as Lowton, is very much on boss Jewell's current wish list.