Southampton full-back Chris Baird is reported to be the Premiership defender Joe Royle is hopeful of landing this week.
The 22-year-old Northern Ireland international spent time on loan at Watford and Walsall last season and, despite signing a new two-year deal in the summer, was not taken on the Saints' pre-season tour of Sweden.
Baird has made only three starts for Southampton, one of those coming in the 2003 FA Cup final against Arsenal.