Blues development squad members Barry Cotter and Aaron Drinan are to join GAIS on trial on Friday, the Swedish club has announced.
Gothenburg-based GAIS say they have been in contact with a number of clubs outside Sweden primarily to attract teams to a youth tournament they’re hosting in October but these discussions have led to interest from several sides - including Town - in more extensive co-operation in "both academic and A-team activities”.
The Blues are said to be keen to give young players the chance to develop in a Scandinavian league, hence the Irish duo’s trial with a view to joining the GAIS squad on loan during the autumn with the Swedish season running through the summer.
A Town coach is also joining them during their trial so the Blues can learn more about the development opportunities at GAIS, who play in the Superetten, the second tier in Sweden.
Cotter, 20, signed for Town from Limerick in January 2018 and made one start and one sub appearance for the Blues first team towards the end of 2017/18.
The right-back or central defender is contracted to Town until the end of June 2021 with the club having an option for a further season.
Irish U21 international Drinan was signed from Waterford also in January 2018 and was on the first-team bench on a number of occasions but without making his senior debut for the Blues.
The 21-year-old striker, who is also contracted to Town until the summer of 2021 with the club having an option for an additional year, has spent much of 2019 on loan back with Waterford in the League of Ireland before being recalled in mid-June.
Meanwhile, Blackburn striker Joe Nuttall, who was linked with Town earlier in the week is tipped to join Blackpool on a permanent deal. It's understood claims of Blues interest in the 22-year-old were wide of the mark.
Elsewhere, former Town striker Paul Taylor, 31, has signed for League Two Stevenage.