Former loanee Bartosz Bialkowski could be set for a return to Portman Road with the Blues understood to have made an offer to Notts County for the Polish keeper. Bialkowski, who is 26 on Saturday, was previously on loan at Portman Road for the last few months of the 2008/09 season while a Southampton player.
During that time the Braniewo-born keeper failed to make a first team appearance but was sent off after handling the ball outside the area in his reserves debut at Luton.
The 6ft 4½in tall Pole started his career in his home country with Olimpia ElblÄ…g and Górnik Zabrze before moving to Southampton, where he worked with Town keeper-coach Malcolm Webster and ex-boss George Burley, in January 2006.
Another loan spell at Barnsley followed the next season and with his opportunities in his six years at St Mary’s having been limited to just 41 starts and one sub appearance — ex-Blue Kelvin Davis having been the Saints’ number one for the most part — he joined Notts County on a three-year deal last summer.
During his first season for the Magpies, who Town meet in a pre-season friendly at Meadow Lane on Saturday 27th July, the Polish U20 international made 40 League One starts and kept 14 clean sheets.
Town are unlikely to be the only Championship club to have taken note of that form for the side now managed by ex-Blue Chris Kiwomya. The Blues also might struggle to match the fee County would want for Bialkowski.
Having released Arran Lee-Barrett and Jason Brown at the end of the season, Scott Loach is currently Town’s only senior goalkeeper and at least one new keeper will be on manager Mick McCarthy’s summer wish list, probably two.
Ex-Bristol City and Colchester man Dean Gerken is currently on trial with the Blues in Ireland and could be involved in Saturday's friendly against Shelbourne in Dublin.