Southend United are keen to sign released Blues midfielder Luke Hyam.
According to the Southend Echo, Shrimpers boss Chris Powell is looking for midfield recruits this summer having allowed ex-Town man Anthony Wordsworth, Michael Timlin and Josh Wright to move on at the end of the season.
Former Northgate High School pupil Hyam, 26, announced his departure from Portman Road after 15 years at the club at the start of May.
Meanwhile, Frank Lampard has confirmed, as TWTD revealed a fortnight ago, that he spoke to the Blues during their interview process.
However, the former England skipper played down the contact when unveiled as the new Derby boss yesterday.
"Preliminary conversations to say the least,” he insisted. "When you’re a new manager, people are aware that I’m there, I’ve done all my coaching badges and I’ve said out loud that I’m flattered to have had interest from anyone, but this really is the one I would focus on because I’m here and because the conversations got past first base.”
New Sunderland manager Jack Ross also held a press conference yesterday and was asked about his other opportunities while boss at St Mirren.
Ross, who like Lampard twice met with Marcus Evans, was understood to have impressed the Blues owner during the interview process but was never offered the role.
The 41-year-old, who held talks with Barnsley earlier in the year, said: "There was no real rush to leave the job I was in and it’s probably been a new experience for me because having enjoyed a period of success on the pitch, it probably presented opportunities earlier than I might have imagined. I didn’t feel if any of them were the right fit at the right time.”