Town are reportedly set to move for Bolton midfielder Darren Pratley, who has been linked with the Blues since the summer.
According to the Bolton News, the Championship’s bottom club are "bracing themselves” for Town to step up their interest in their 30-year-old skipper, who was amongst the scorers in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over the MK Dons and also in Tuesday’s 3-2 FA Cup third round replay win against Eastleigh.
Manager Neil Lennon says he’s received no recent interest in any of his players with Bolton’s parlous financial situation having been eased slightly by the imminent sale of a car park, but he doesn’t expect that to remain the case for long with the transfer window closing next Monday.
"It has gone a little quiet but I’d be surprised if my phone doesn’t start ringing next week,” he admitted.
The Northern Irishman confirmed that Pratley has previously attracted the attention of other clubs.
"There was interest in him and I think there is still interest in him this month as well,” he added. "He has been superb. He is starting to show the form he had last season before he got that really bad hamstring injury.
"He is pitching in, not only with all round good performances, but goals as well. That’s the reason we kept him on. He is captain material and he is starting to drive the team forward.”
Pratley was linked with the Blues in the summer when a free agent before signing a new three-year deal with the Trotters.
The Londoner, who started his career with Fulham and spent time on loan at Brentford before moving on to Swansea and then in 2011 Bolton, was linked again earlier this month.
Town boss Mick McCarthy has played down adding to his squad before the transfer window closes, however, when speaking after Saturday's defeat at Birmingham didn't entirely rule out a signing, saying "it all depends on who is available”.
The Blues will be without central midfielder Jonathan Douglas for three games following his red card at St Andrew's, however, Luke Hyam is fit again after his lengthy absence and looks set to take his place in the side.
Although Teddy Bishop is still sidelined with his hamstring injury, McCarthy still has a number of other players who operate in central midfield in his squad, including Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Jay Tabb and Giles Coke, in addition to regular starters Cole Skuse and Kevin Bru.