TWTD understands Derby County are now leading contenders in the chase for Blues striker Martyn Waghorn.
As revealed at the end of last month, Middlesbrough are keen to land the 28-year-old, while Nottingham Forest, who were previously linked, and Birmingham are also among several Championship clubs eyeing the former Sunderland, Leicester and Wigan frontman.
We understand the Rams, managed by Frank Lampard, who was among those interviewed for the Town boss’s job earlier in the summer, are now showing strong interest in Waghorn, who enjoyed a hugely successful first season with the Blues following last August’s £200,000 move from Rangers.
The South Shields-born striker, who is contracted to Town until the summer of 2019 with the club having an option for a further season, was the Blues' top scorer with 16 goals and also picked up 11 assists. No one else in the Championship was directly involved in more goals.
Given that success, it would take a very significant fee to tempt Town to part with a player who quickly became a popular figure at the club.
Derby previously came close to signing Waghorn on loan from the Foxes in January 2011 and were linked with a permanent move the following summer.
Meanwhile, the Town squad fly back from their Spanish training camp today with the players being given tomorrow off before returning to Playford Road on Wednesday.
The Blues would appear likely to make a decision on whether to sign trialist Kane Vincent-Young later in the week.
Town may also receive a response from Blackpool regarding their £550,000 bid for central defender Curtis Tilt in the days to come.
We understand that there is substance to the weekend reports relating to that offer with the Tangerines believed to targeting £1 million for the 26-year-old former Wrexham centre-half.