Town are being linked with transfer-listed Sheffield United right-back Kieron Freeman.
According to various reports, the Blues are monitoring the 24-year-old’s situation, Freeman having been told he can leave the League One Blades despite having a year left on his contract.
Freeman spent the second half of last season on loan at Portsmouth but made only four starts and three substitute appearances for Pompey and missed the play-offs as he was sent off in the final League Two game of the campaign, coincidentally against Northampton, where new Blades manager Chris Wilder was then boss.
Town regularly sent scouts to watch Portsmouth last season to keep tabs on loanee Matt Clarke and Adam Webster, who became the Blues’ first signing of the summer earlier this month, a deal which saw Clarke join Pompey full-time.
Despite his lack of games during his loan spell, Portsmouth boss Paul Cook is keen to sign Freeman on a permanent basis but that deal has been held up while the player and Sheffield United negotiate a settlement of his current contract.
Freeman, a close friend of former Blue Elliott Hewitt, was born in Arnold and came through the youth system at his local club Nottingham Forest.
Having spent time on loan at Mansfield and Notts County, the 5ft 10in tall defender moved on to Derby County in 2012 having made only one senior start and one sub appearance for Forest.
Capped by Wales at U17, U19 levels in addition to 15 caps with the U21s, Freeman spent two further spells out on loan at Notts County, then Sheffield United and again at Mansfield while with the Rams before joining the Blades on a permanent basis in January 2015.
The Blues moving for Freeman would be a surprise given his recent career history, although TWTD reported that Town boss Mick McCarthy had sent scouts to watch him in January 2013 during his time as a Derby player.
McCarthy is keen on signing a right-back having offered Kevin Foley a deal when his short-term contract was up at the end of the season. The former Irish international is currently understood to be weighing up his options.
Meanwhile, Monty Patterson’s senior international debut for New Zealand at the Oceania Nations Cup means his former club, Auckland-based Eastern Suburbs, are due what’s understood to be a small payment from Town.
Patterson, 19, made five appearances for the All Whites as they won the tournament, beating hosts Papua New Guinea on penalties in Saturday’s final.
"We were thrilled for Monty at his selection,” Suburbs chairman Chris Ruffell said. "As a club, we took pride at watching one of our former stars playing for our national team.
"The monies paid by Ipswich will be invested into our coaching programmes to help produce the next budding international.”