Reports in Ireland claim the Blues have finally made a bid to sign Cork City midfielder George O'Callaghan. Yesterday Damien Richardson, manager of the Eircom League side, revealed that his side had turned down a loan request from Town and were waiting for the Blues to make an offer to sign the 27-year-old on a permanent basis.

SPL side Dunfermline are also reported to be showing an interest in the attacking midfielder, who has been on trial at Portman Road since September. Dunfermline are also reported to have made a £170,000 bid for Bohemians striker Stephen Ward, a player heavily linked with Town in the close season.

O'Callaghan is out of contract at Cork at the end of the year and is likely to cost the Blues around £50,000.

Meanwhile, Arsenal youngster Anthony Stokes is the latest striker to be linked with Town. The Blues are claimed to want the 18-year-old on loan.

Stokes has just ended a highly successful half-season loan at Falkirk where he scored 16 goals in 18 games before being recalled by the Gunners.

It would be a surprise if Town are after the Dubliner, Jim Magilton recently commenting that he prefers a player already in his squad: “We have seen young Stokes and like him ourselves - but in my opinion Billy Clarke is a better player."

Charlton, West Ham and Celtic are among a number of clubs reportedly interested in the striker, with Arsene Wenger happy for his player to spend the rest of the season in either the SPL or the Premiership. Wenger is thought to be less keen on the frontman joining a Championship side. Stokes himself is understood to want to remain at the Emirates Stadium and fight for his place in Wenger's side.

The striker's apparent exit from Falkirk - the Bairns are still hopeful of extending his spell until the end of the season - could lead to Darryl Knights moving north of the border as his replacement. Knights impressed manager John Hughes on trial at the end of last year and a loan move is a strong possibility.

Elsewhere, Town may have taken note of Tottenham midfielder Mark Yeates cutting short his loan spell at Hull City. The Blues were linked with the 21-year-old over the summer, prior to the Irishman moving to the KC Stadium on what was intended to be a season-long loan.

Yeates spent 2005/06 on loan at Colchester United and is likely to be familiar to the Town management team.

A number of national newspapers are again linking Sheffield United frontman Steve Kabba with a move to Portman Road. The 25-year-old has been told he can leave Bramall Lane and is likely to be available for a nominal fee or on a free transfer.

Darren Bent's knee injury is reported to have put a proposed £12 million West Ham bid on hold. Bent is out of action for a month.

Town would receive 20% of any profit Charlton make on the £2.6 million they have already paid the Blues for the England striker should he move on.

Peterborough United are reported to be interested in signing Town central defender Ian Miller on loan. Miller returned from his spell with Boston United earlier this week.

Town boss Jim Magilton recently told TWTD that a number of clubs have shown interest in Miller and that he could send the former Bury Town man out on loan again, probably at a level higher than League Two.

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