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Gerrard Linked With Blues Job - Ipswich Town News

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is the latest name to be linked with the Town manager’s job.

According to The Sun on Sunday, Town owner Marcus Evans has "sounded out” Gerrard on whether he would be interested in succeeding Mick McCarthy via a third party.

Gerrard is currently the U18s coach at the Anfield academy but is expected to eventually step up into senior management, whether that’s now or after he has gained further coaching experience at a lower level.

The 37-year-old, pictured above in action for England against Croatia at Portman Road in 2003, was previously linked with the MK Dons, while other clubs are also said to have shown interest.

Gerrard’s England team-mate Frank Lampard is also thought to be a potential candidate for the Town job and it's understood that the ex-Chelsea and West Ham man has had some contact with the Blues regarding the role as he similarly looks to start his management career.

We understand Town have received very significant interest since McCarthy announced he would be moving on at the end of the season a fortnight ago before exiting ahead of that schedule on Tuesday.

Lincoln manager Danny Cowley is still the bookies’ favourite for the role at 2-1 with Bet Victor despite the Imps boss and his brother and assistant Nicky being close to signing new extended contracts at Sincil Bank.

Ex-Blues skipper and coach Tony Mowbray remains second-favourite at 5-1 with Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst - a manager very much in the up and coming mould Town are understood to favour appointing - now third-favourite at 10-1.

Elsewhere in the Sunday tabloids, Mowbray is linked with his old job at West Brom, who have also been mentioned in connection with former Blues boss McCarthy. Another ex-Baggies manager Derek McInnes, currently at Aberdeen, is also claimed to be among the leading candidates.

Meanwhile, the Sunday People claims the Blues and Sunderland are keen on signing Reading keeper Jonathan Bond when he comes out of contract in the summer.

Bond, 24, who has been on loan at Peterborough this season, started his career with Watford and had loan spells at Brackley Town, Dagenham and Redbridge, Forest Green Rovers and Bury before joining the Royals, for whom he has made only 14 appearances in 2015.

He was with Gillingham in the first half of last season before joining Posh, for whom he has been a regular starter until recent weeks, in the summer.

Town may well be in the market for another senior keeper in the summer with Bartosz Bialkowski expected to receive interest from January suitors Crystal Palace among others.

However, with the management situation unlikely to be resolved until the summer, links with players should currently be taken with a pinch of salt.

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