Premier League strugglers Sunderland are keeping tabs on Town centre-half Adam Webster, according to various reports this morning.
The Black Cats are said to see the 21-year-old as a potential replacement for Lamine Koné if the Ivory Coast international moves on to West Ham during the January transfer window.
Sunderland assistant boss Paul Bracewell is reported to have watched Webster in action as Town lost 2-1 at Birmingham on Tuesday, a game in which the former England U18 and U19 international scored his first goal for the Blues.
The Wearsiders’ interest in Webster is said to date back to his time with Portsmouth.
Town boss Mick McCarthy believes the West Wittering-born defender has the potential to play in the top flight.
"I look at the Premier League and some of the defending in there and think, well, if I haven’t got a Premier League centre-half in the making then I’m a Dutchman,” he said last week.
"He’s a good player, whatever he cost he’s a good player. I’m not touting to sell him, we’ve got a very good player.
"And a young one who is still learning. I’m not suggesting he should be going off and playing anywhere else. I think he should be the foundation of what is a pretty good squad of [young] players.”
Webster joined the Blues from Pompey for £700,000 plus Matt Clarke, who joined his former loan club on a permanent basis, in the summer, signing a three-year deal with an option for a further season.