Town, Bristol City and Brighton are all understood to be interested in released Norwich striker Aaron Wilbraham, a player the Blues were eyeing in January. Canaries midfielder Andrew Crofts is also amongst Town’s potential summer targets, while the Blues are amongst a number of Championship clubs monitoring his out of contract team-mate David Fox.
Former MK Dons striker Wilbraham, 32, was let go by the Canaries this week after 18 months at Carrow Road during which time he made nine starts and 19 sub appearances, scoring two goals.
Although not in line with Paul Jewell’s overall stated aim of bringing in younger players this summer, the Blues currently appear short of a big striker in the mould of 6ft 3in tall Wilbraham.
After a spell in Manchester City’s youth set-up, Wilbraham began his senior career with Stockport, going out on loan to Moss FK in Norway during seven years at Edgeley Park, prior to a £100,000 July 2004 switch to Hull City.
After failing to nail down a place in a year with the Tigers, which included a month on loan at Oldham, Wilbraham moved on to the MK Dons on a free transfer.
Following a spell on loan at Bradford in the 2005/06 campaign, Wilbraham helped his parent side to the 2007/08 League Two title.
A record of 57 goals in 153 starts and 43 sub appearances for the Dons, for whom he also played in central midfield, led to his switch to Norwich.
Midfielder Crofts, who was also understood to be interesting Town in January, was involved less and less as the Canaries’ Premier League campaign progressed.
The defensive midfielder has a year left on his contract at Carrow Road, having signed from Brighton for a fee believed to be in the region of £300,000 in May 2010. The 27-year-old played youth football with Chelsea before joining Gillingham where he made his first team debut in May 2001.
While with the Gills he spent time on loan at Peterborough and Wrexham before he joined Brighton on a free transfer in the summer of 2009.
The Chatham-born midfielder could be one of a number of former regulars moving on from Carrow Road during the close season.
Another midfielder David Fox, 28, is out of contract and yet to be offered new terms, with the Blues and other Championship clubs believed to be keeping an eye on the ex-Colchester and Blackpool man’s situation.
Fox, the son of former Stoke keeper Peter, played youth football with Exeter and Manchester United and spent time on loan with Royal Antwerp and Shrewsbury while at Old Trafford, before joining the Tangerines on a permanent basis without having played a senior game for the Red Devils.
Photo: Action Images