Town are closing in on the signing of Luton Town winger Chiedozie Ogbene, TWTD understands.
News that the Blues were targeting the 27-year-old emerged yesterday and we understand the move had made swift progress with the fee believed to be around £8 million.
Ogbene joined the Hatters last summer having spent the previous four seasons with Rotherham United.
In 2023/24, the Republic of Ireland international made 20 starts and 10 sub appearances in the Premier League, scoring four goals and picking up one assist.
A move for another primarily right-sided forward might be viewed as a surprise with the Blues having Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson for the role, although with the Welshman currently out with a hamstring injury.
Ogbene, who has been linked with Town in previous transfer windows, is versatile and can also be played wide on the left - where Nathan Broadhead is currently absent, also due to a hamstring problem - or as a number 10.
The 5ft 11in tall wideman had a trial at Portman Road in January 2018 when a Limerick player alongside Barry Cotter but unlike his compatriot didn’t win a contract. However, another trial spell the same month yielded a deal with Brentford.
Town look to have all but completed their summer business with a loan move for Chelsea striker Armando Broja up in the air due to achilles issues which emerged during his medical on Wednesday, although looking more likely than appeared to be at the weekend.
The club has been working on their due diligence and adjusting the paperwork since then, presumably to mitigate their risk with the deal set to become a permanent switch worth £30 million next summer should the Blues stay up.
Town already have 27 players who qualify for their 25-man Premier League squad even before any further additions meaning several players will have to move on or not be available for league games.
Freddie Ladapo seems certain to move on, while George Edmundson would also appear on the way out following the signing of Dara O’Shea.
Others, such as Ali Al-Hamadi, Marcus Harness and Cieran Slicker, could be set for loans before the window closes.