Hearts have emerged as contenders to sign former Blues skipper Gareth McAuley, who is also interesting Town, Rangers and Aberdeen.
The 38-year-old central defender is a free agent having left West Brom at the end of last season. EFL clubs have until 5pm today to sign loanees, while the Scottish transfer window closes at midnight.
Austin MacPhee, assistant coach at Tynecastle, who is currently in temporary charge of the Scottish Premiership side with manager Craig Levein having been taken ill earlier in the week, confirmed that talks have taken place.
"Gareth McAuley is a player I know really well,” he told The Scotsman. "I’ve worked with him for five years [as assistant coach of Northern Ireland] and I have huge respect for him.
"He still trains every day. All his GPS info is right up there and his stats defy his age - maybe because he came into football a bit later.
"But I don’t know if Gareth will become a Hearts player. He is a player both myself and the manager like but it depends on a few things with the budget and with what we need that centre-back to do, and what Gareth wants to do as well. But we have had a chat with him.”
Rangers’ interest in McAuley may have diminished with Nottingham Forest’s Joe Worrall set to sign on loan today. Aberdeen were reported to be keen in the Scottish press last week.
Landing another centre-half is Town’s priority going into deadline day with McAuley one of a number of players in manager Paul Hurst’s thoughts.
It’s believed the Blues remain interesting in AFC Wimbledon skipper Deji Oshilaja, who was at the club and came close to signing on the final day of the transfer window, while West Ham’s James Collins is another central defender who has come into consideration, although it is believed the 35-year-old Welshman could return to the Hammers, while QPR are also said to be keen.
Last night, Town were linked with Wolves skipper Danny Batth, however, Sheffield Wednesday appear to be the favourites for the 27-year-old with Leeds also reported to be contenders.
Both Town boss Hurst and Blackpool interim-manager Terry McPhillips have said the Blues' long-standing move for central defender Curtis Tilt, which looked to have made progress earlier in the week, isn't going to come to fruition.
"As far as we’re aware it’s dead now but we’re not stupid — it’s football and anything can happen until 5pm,” McPhillips told the Blackpool Gazette.
"We don’t want to lose anyone else. It will be nervous times for us. If we can keep the squad we’ve got and maybe add another one or two, then I think we’ll be in good fettle.”