Barnsley are reported to have joined Town in showing interest in former Blues loanee Dominic Samuel.
TWTD reported in May that Town boss Mick McCarthy was keen to make the 23-year-old a permanent member of his squad following his half-season loan from Reading.
Now, according to The Sun, the Tykes are also keen on Samuel, who is contracted to the Royals until the summer of 2018, but with the Blues remaining the favourites to land the London-born former England U19 international.
Samuel’s loan spell at Portman Road got off to an unfortunate start when he suffered a broken toe - although by that time he had already scored a hat-trick on his U23s debut - but he subsequently impressed McCarthy in training and went on to make two first-team starts and four sub appearances without scoring.
Speaking at the first day of pre-season training last Monday, McCarthy said players would have to leave before "too many others” come in and it may well be that the Blues need to offload Brett Pitman - who along with Kevin Bru we understand has been told he can move on if he can find a new club - before another striker can be signed, Joe Garner already having joined from Rangers this summer.