Town are considering a January move for Dundalk right-back Sean Gannon, according to various reports.
The 25-year-old, who is out of contract and available on a free transfer in January, is said to have caught the eye when the Blues were running the rule over Dundalk winger Daryl Horgan during the Lilywhites' recent Europa League games.
Horgan agreed to join the other Lilywhites, Preston North End, last week with Town boss Mick McCarthy not having taken his interest any further than watching the recent Republic of Ireland call-up.
Dubliner Gannon played youth football with St Kevin’s Boys, then started his senior career with Shamrock Rovers before moving on to St Patrick’s Athletic and then joining Dundalk at the end of the 2013 season.
The 6ft tall full-back has been named in the PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year in each of the last three seasons in which Dundalk have carried off the SSE Airtricity Premier Division title, having also played for St Patrick's when they were champions in 2013 and been part of the winning Shamrock Rovers squad in 2011.
A right-back wouldn’t appear to be one of McCarthy’s January priorities with the Blues boss having said he is happy with skipper Luke Chambers as his regular starter in the role and 19-year-old Josh Emmanuel as his deputy.