Town centre-half Christophe Berra could leave the Blues this month and return to his former club Hearts, according to a report in Scotland.
The Edinburgh Evening News reports that the Edinburgh club are keen to move for the 31-year-old if he is able to negotiate a settlement of the final six months of his Blues contract. Talks regarding a severance package are said to be under way.
Scotland international Berra began his career with hometown club Hearts before Town boss Mick McCarthy took the 6ft 1in tall defender to Wolves in February 2009 for a fee of £2.3 million, then signed him on a Bosman when Town manager in the summer of 2013.
Berra has been a regular throughout his time with the Blues and has made 166 starts and one sub appearance, scoring 13 times.
Speaking in September, Berra confirmed that he is looking to return home to Scotland at some stage, however, it would come as a surprise if he were to move on in January, particularly with Tommy Smith, Town’s only other senior left-sided centre-half, still a little way off a return following back surgery.
If Berra, who scored the second goal in yesterday’s 3-2 victory over Blackburn, does move on the Blues would certainly be looking for a replacement.
Meanwhile, The Sun reports that Town owner Marcus Evans is funding a "January spending spree” as he is concerned manager Mick McCarthy might move on at the end of the season and is hoping to convince him to stay.
Speaking yesterday, McCarthy said he had made a number of one million pound-plus offers for players but so far without being able to add to £10,000 recruit Kieffer Moore, whose signing from Forest Green Rovers was confirmed last night.
"We’ve had three or four one million pound-plus bids in for players, but they’ve all been kiboshed,” he said.
"We’re still working on them and trying to do them, but if they’re too expensive I can’t do owt about it.”
McCarthy is contracted to Town until the summer of 2018 with the club having an option for two more seasons.