Town, Aberdeen and Hibernian are all chasing Sligo Rovers striker Eoin Doyle, according to reports in Scotland. The 23-year-old free agent has already held talks at Easter Road and has been training with the Edinburgh side but the Blues and Dons are said to be ready to pounce.
Initially a winger before moving up front in the last year or so, Dubliner Doyle started his career with Shelbourne but failed to make an impact until he moved on to Shamrock Rovers in 2007.
In 2009 6ft-tall Doyle, a former Republic of Ireland U15 international, joined his current club and last season netted 20 goals in the League of Ireland Premier Division (25 in all competitions) as his side finished second in the table and won the FAI Cup for the second year running.
Sligo spokesperson Keith O'Dwyer says Doyle wouldn’t be averse to a move to Easter Road but that the deal isn’t done: "[Hibs boss] Pat Fenlon has come in for him and it's definitely something Eoin is interested in.
"We're not 100 per cent sure he is going to sign and we would not give up hope that we can sign Doyle for next year because he is a huge player for us.
"But we are very aware about the interest from Hibs and, as he is not a contracted player, he is entitled to seek fresh moves for himself.
"Pat knows our manager Paul Cook very well, so I'd have imagined he would have called him about this.
"We don't want to lose him, he broke the club's scoring record for most goals in a league and that record was set in 1937.
"We used to play him on the wing, but he played up front this year and was an absolute revelation."
O'Dwyer says his club may be entitled to compensation: "He is under 24 and we would seek clarification for the FAI and UEFA about the need to pay a training and development fee."