Middlesbrough are reportedly offering the Blues left-back James Husband in a cash-plus-player move for Town striker Daryl Murphy.
Earlier today, reports in Ireland claimed the Blues had rejected a £4.5 million offer from Boro for the 32-year-old, the subject of much speculation since netting 27 Championship goals last season.
TWTD understands that Town rebuffed an offer for the Irish international a fortnight ago but the Teessiders appear keen to continue their pursuit.
According to HITC Sport, Boro are now offering Husband as part of a deal reportedly worth in excess of £4 million.
Husband, 21, joined Boro from Doncaster for a fee of £500,000 last summer with Curtis Main moving in the opposite direction, but was unable to establish himself in the team at the Riverside.
The Leeds-born full-back made just five starts - only two in the league - and one sub appearance before joining Fulham on loan loan in March, playing five games.
Town are said to have already been considering Husband as a potential replacement for Tyrone Mings, who joined AFC Bournemouth in an £8 million deal last week.
While Jonny Parr’s preferred position is left-back and manager Mick McCarthy has challenged the Norwegian to make the position his own, it’s likely that the Blues boss will want to sign another left-sided full-back before the start of the season.
Speaking yesterday, McCarthy reiterated his intention to keep Murphy at Portman Road: "We don’t want to sell Daryl Murphy, we don’t want to lose Daryl Murphy.
"He’s still on a break because he’s only had a couple of weeks [off since being away with Ireland]. That’s what I’ll be telling him, and his agent - we want to keep him.
"He was the outstanding striker in this league last season and it would be difficult to fill his boots. We’re going to try and keep him.”
Murphy, who previously played in the North-East with Sunderland, has said on a number of occasions he that he has no intention of leaving Town as he and his family are settled in Suffolk.
The Waterford-born frontman signed a new contract with Town last July, which has another year left to run with the Blues having an option to extend it for a further season.