TWTD has learnt that Sheffield Wednesday central defender Leigh Bromby could be one of Joe Royle's summer targets. However, the Blues' boss may face competition from local rivals Norwich City for the 22-year-old's signature.
Bromby, who can also play at right-back, spent this March on loan at Carrow Road and played five games, including Town's 2-0 derby win. He also faced the Blues for Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road last October.
At the end of his month in Norfolk Nigel Worthington was keen to sign him permanently but the two clubs couldn't agree a deal. Since then Darren Kenton has moved to Southampton and the Norwich boss may well want to make another bid for the former England youth cap.
Bromby returned to South Yorkshire and was involved in a number of matches late in the season, impressing new manager Chris Turner.
Despite the player doing well, Turner admitted last week that he may be forced to let him go: "He played the last five games of the season in which we were unbeaten, but if we get an offer for any of our players we would have to look at it."
With new signing Dean Smith establishing himself at centre-half in the later stages of the season and Turner expressing an interest in Graeme Lee from his old club Hartlepool, it could be that Bromby needs to move on to get first team football.
The 22-year-old came through the ranks at Hillsbrough but made his league debut as a loanee at Mansfield in December 1999. He played 11 games for the Field Mill outfit, scoring once, before returning to Wednesday and made his first Owls appearance against Wolves in December 2000. He has now made 82 appearances and has added one more goal to his tally.
A long throw specialist, he has been linked with a host of Premiership clubs over the last couple of years including Manchester City, Spurs, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Southampton and Liverpool but no big move has ever materialised.
The Dewsbury-born player is well-known to Town assistant manager Willie Donachie who was coach at Hillsbrough until switching to Portman Road to join up with Joe Royle.
Wednesday will want a fee for Bromby, however, given their financial problems and their recent relegation, that figure may be as low as a few hundred thousand pounds. The Blues' ability to afford a fee even at that level may well be reliant on one or two players leaving Portman Road first.
The Blues are currently still subject to a transfer embargo but hope to have it lifted at a Football League board meeting on June 4th once they have exited administration. Manager Joe Royle has said that he will immediately look to start wheeling and dealing once the ban is rescinded.
Royle has already revealed that he plans to sign two central defenders and a goalkeeper during the close season.