Town are willing to listen to offers for centre-half Damien Delaney, according to one of this morning’s tabloids. The 31-year-old is currently out of the Blues’ first XI with Tommy Smith taking his place alongside Luke Chambers in pre-season games since returning from Olympics duty with New Zealand.
Delaney, who has a year left on his Town contract, was linked with a move to Nottingham Forest last month, although manager Paul Jewell said the club had heard nothing from the Midlands club, who subsequently signed former Blues loanee Danny Collins, a left-sided centre-half like Delaney.
Jewell recently confirmed that he had made a bid for another left-sided centre-back, Doncaster’s George Friend, who decided to join Middlesbrough instead.
The Blues boss is looking to offload players — Jimmy Bullard and Jaime Peters are both set to have their contracts settled — in order to fund further additions to his squad.
Meanwhile, Rangers manager Ally McCoist says he hopes his club will be entitled to a fee if Town target Maurice Edu moves on. Previously it had been understood that having failed to transfer his contract to the Rangers newco Edu was available on a free transfer, although a report yesterday said the Glasgow club would receive £300,000 for the US international.
McCoist admits that even he’s not entirely certain of the situation: "There’s a chance of money for Maurice Edu and Dorin Goian. I’m not sure if that’s the case with Carlos Bocanegra if he decides to leave. To be honest, I’m all claused out when it comes to contracts.”
Elsewhere, Dundee United winger Gary Mackay-Steven, who was linked with the Blues by the Scottish press earlier in the week, is reportedly a target of Swansea and Huddersfield. The Terrors are said to want around £2 million for the Scotland U21 international, a fee which would certainly price Town out of the market.