Town are closing in on the loan signing of Barnsley winger Luke Thomas.
The 21-year-old has been on the Blues’ radar for a number of weeks but with the Championship Tykes now having given the OK for the former Derby and Cheltenham man, who has been in their matchday squad on a regular basis if not a starter, to depart.
Thomas, who has made eight starts and 14 sub appearances for the South Yorkshiremen this season, is expected to travel to Portman Road today to complete the formalities and the switch could be confirmed later in the day.
The Soudley-born wideman, who is left-footed but tends to operate on the right, was with West Brom as a schoolboy before moving on to Cheltenham with whom he made one senior sub appearance.
Thomas moved on to Derby County in 2016 and spent time on loan at Gloucester City and Coventry while a Rams player.
Although he made only two sub appearances for Derby, his form while on loan with the Sky Blues during 2018/19 persuaded Barnsley to pay £1.2 million for his services in the summer following that campaign.
In total, 5ft 6in tall Thomas has made 34 starts and 30 sub appearances for Barnsley, scoring twice.
Last month, Sunderland and Oxford United were reported to be among a number of League One clubs keen on making a move for the former England U20 international on a permanent basis.
Town expect to make Preston’s Josh Harrop their first signing of the January transfer window prior to finalising the Thomas deal with the 25-year-old having been at the club yesterday to undergo his medical and formalise his switch.
The League One salary cap is understood to have added to the red tape relating to a move, while the Blues will also be carefully scrutinising his medical results with Harrop having suffered cruciate ligament damage in October 2018.
Having turned 21 since New Year's Day 2020, Thomas doesn't count as a senior players with regards to the salary cap.