Veteran former England international Ashley Young is reportedly likely to join the Blues this summer.
Young, who turned 40 earlier this month, is a free agent having been released by Everton at the end of the season after two years at Goodison Park. Despite his age, he made 36 appearances last season.
According to TalkSPORT, the right-sided full-back or winger had been interesting Watford, where he started his career and where he might have been named captain, but his wage demands didn’t fit into their structure and he is now likely to join the Blues.
Earlier in the summer, rumours circulated that Young was on Town’s radar with a player-coach role mooted, Lee Grant having left the backroom staff to take over as Huddersfield boss.
Meanwhile, TWTD understands Young’s son Tyler has been among the trialists featuring for the U21s in pre-season. The 19-year-old was released by Peterborough at the end of last season.
Young senior, who if he completes his move will become the club’s oldest ever signing, made his breakthrough with the Hornets in 2003 having been at the club since he was 10.
Capped by England 39 times, scoring seven goals, Stevenage-born moved on to Aston Villa in 2007 and then Manchester United four years later and was at the club after Kieran McKenna had been promoted to the first-team staff.
A spell at Inter Milan, then a return to Aston Villa followed prior to joining Everton in July 2023.
Speaking when McKenna was in discussions with Brighton, Chelsea and Manchester United last summer, Young was full of praise for the Northern Irishman.
"I think he's got everything to be a top, top manager,” he told TalkSPORT. "I worked with him at Manchester United and saw how much passion he’s got for football, the love he’s got for football and just how he wants to be successful.
"He’s seen as one of those managers. At Ipswich they want to play football, they want to be expansive, they want to get on the front foot.
"Obviously, he's younger than me, he's just one of those coaches that wants to be successful. He’s got everything there to be a successful manager, no disrespect to Ipswich, at a bigger club.”