Arsenal are the latest club to be linked with a move for Blues youngster Dylan Crowe.
In July, Manchester United, Brighton, RB Leipzig, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Benfica were all said to be eyeing the 17-year-old right-back but, according to the Sunday Mirror, the Gunners are now the frontrunners in the chase to land the England U18 international. Borussia Dortmund are also said to be among those interested.
Crowe has been with the Blues since he was 12 but despite turning 17 in April is still to sign a professional deal at Portman Road.
A regular in the Town U23s, Crowe would have been with the England U19s during the international break but for injury, having played at U15, U16 and U17 levels prior to picking up two U18s caps last month.
Town lost 16-year-old Ben Knight to Manchester City for an initial £1 million in the summer with owner Marcus Evans subsequently hitting out at the system of compensed clubs for the loss of academy players to bigger clubs.