Town are reported to upped their bid for Blackpool central defender Curtis Tilt to £700,000.
According to Sky Sports, the Tangerines are yet to accept the offer for the 26-year-old, who is understood to have handed in a transfer request.
The Blues previous two bids for Tilt had seen them reach £550,000 with the two sides having been involved in a stand-off for most of the month, Blackpool having put a £1 million price tag on their player's head.
Talks are understood to have taken place last week and Blues boss Paul Hurst was evidently pleased to learn that Tilt hadn’t played for the Seasiders in their friendly against Crewe Alexandra after Town’s game against West Ham, hinting that it might signify good news.
However, the deal was still to be done and it appears Town have now increased their offer as they look to secure the Walsall-born defender ahead of the weekend opener against Blackburn Rovers at Portman Road.
Tilt played in non-league for Halesowen Town, Hednesford Town, AFC Telford Town, Wrexham and Forest Green Rovers (loan) before joining Blackpool last summer.
He made 45 starts for the League One side in 2017/18, his first EFL campaign, scoring once and picking up three Seasiders’ player of the season gongs.
Rangers, Reading, QPR and Portsmouth have all also been linked with Tilt this summer.
Meanwhile, former Blues loanee Bersant Celina has joined Swansea City from Manchester City for an initial £3 million, signing a four-year deal.
The Swans have also recruited another winger, Barrie McKay, from Nottingham Forest, who was linked with Town earlier in the summer.