The Blues, Middlesbrough and Preston North End are all reportedly keen on Northampton Town keeper David Cornell.
According to Football Insider, Cornell’s displays for the Cobblers this season have led to the Blues, Boro and Lilywhites watching him in action this season.
The 28-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season so could be available at a cut-price fee in January or on a free in the summer.
Born in Waunarlwydd in Wales, Cornell started his career at Swansea during which time he had spells on loan at Port Talbot, Hereford, St Mirren and Portsmouth before moving on to Oldham in the summer of July 2015 having made only one League Cup appearance for the Swans.
In June 2016 he joined Northampton and has made 89 starts and one sub appearance for League Two’s sixth-placed side.
Cornell, who is 6ft 2in tall and could be set for a first Wales call-up having won caps at U17, U19 and U21 levels, has conceded only 16 goals in 17 games this season.
While Town currently don’t look in need of another goalkeeper, manager Paul Lambert revealed on Friday that Will Norris could be recalled from his season-long loan by parent club Wolves in January.
If that were to be the case then the Blues would look to add another keeper to their ranks for the second half of the campaign.
Lambert also said he hadn’t thought about whether to recall Bartosz Bialkowski from his spell at Millwall. However, if the Polish international is brought back from the Lions it seems more likely it would be so he could be sold rather than to go back into the Town squad.