Town are understood to have made an enquiry regarding Watford keeper Scott Loach. The Hornets may be will willing to sell the former England U21 international, who was previously with the Blues’ academy between 1997 and 2000 before his family returned to hometown Nottingham, as they are reportedly set to sign former Cardiff man Tom Heaton, who is a free agent.
Loach has been linked with Town on a number of occasions during the close season, the 24-year-old having said it would be "a dream to play” for his boyhood club one day last summer.
The 6ft 4in tall keeper established himself as Watford’s number one during 2008/09 but after a drop in form fell out of favour at Vicarage Road last season with Manchester United’s Tomasz Kuszczak — Town’s number one keeper target until he joined Brighton last week - coming in on loan.
In addition to his spells as a youngster with the Blues — where he will have worked with current keeper-coach Malcolm Webster and returning academy director Bryan Klug - and Nottingham Forest, Loach was also with Southwell United and Lincoln City's youth set-ups, spending time on loan with the likes of Bourne Town, Radcliffe Olympic, Boston Town, Spalding United, Stamford, Lincoln United, Gedling Miners Welfare and Grantham Town while with the Imps.
In April 2006 Loach moved on to Watford, Lincoln receiving £50,000 in compensation. Prior to breaking into the first team at Vicarage Road he went on further loan spells at Stafford Rangers, Morecambe and Bradford City.
Loach, who was capped 14 times at U21 level, is unlikely to be the only keeper the Blues have enquired about — in addition to Kuszczak, former Peterborough man Joe Lewis was sounded out earlier in the close season — and other Championship clubs are also believed to be interested.
The Blues have also been mentioned in connection with a number of other keepers this summer, amongst them Birmingham's Colin Doyle, although with sources close to the club playing any interest down, ex-Aston Villa man Brad Guzan, who is available on a free transfer and understood to be a Hull City target, and QPR's Paddy Kenny, who is expected to be reunited with Neil Warnock at Leeds.
Manchester United's Ben Amos was linked with a possible loan, while 23-year-old Tottenham man David Button, who was at Portman Road with Barnsley last season, could well be available on a similar basis and will be well-known to Bryan Klug from his time working at White Hart Lane.
Loach can be seen in action for Town’s academy in this short film.
Photo: Action Images