Town are reported to be amongst a number of Championship clubs interested in taking Reading striker Simon Church on loan. The Blues, Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town are all said to have enquired about the 23-year-old Wales international’s availability on a season-long loan.
Church joined Reading’s youth set-up from hometown club Wycombe Wanderers when a schoolboy and has progressed through the ranks to the first team having been sent out for loan spells at Crewe, Yeovil, Wycombe and Leyton Orient.
Last season, the 5ft 11in tall frontman netted seven goals in 21 starts and 12 sub appearances but may find it harder to win a place in the side after the Royals’ return to the Premier League.
Town boss Paul Jewell has been looking to add a bigger striker to his squad since the end of last season but has been unable to do a deal with Derby for Steve Davies.
Meanwhile, Nathan Ellington could be the next player whose Town contract is settled, following Jimmy Bullard and Jaime Peters, whose Portman Road exits are expected to be confirmed this week.
Ellington’s chances of first team involvement with Town appear slim and the 31-year-old could move out on trial, with Forest, perhaps surprisingly, understood to be amongst several clubs willing to offer him the chance to impress.