Town, Burnley, Wolves and Leicester City are all chasing Drogheda central defender Graham Gartland, according to reports in Ireland. The 24-year-old recently impressed while playing alongside Alex Bruce for the Irish B side in their friendly against Scotland.

Leicester are said to be the frontrunners for Gartland's signature with Drogheda yet to receive any bids for a player considered to be one of the best playing in the Eircom League.

In addition to his B cap, Gartland has represented the Republic at U14, U16, U18 and U20 levels, and was called into the senior squad for last summer's tour of the US but was forced to drop out.

The Dubliner played his youth football with Home Farm, where Owen Garvan's father is a coach, before spells as a youth player with Barnsley and Dundee United. He returned to Ireland to play with St Patrick's Athletic and Longford Town, joining Drogheda in 2004.

Town are likely to have sent scouts to the Ireland B international at Airdrie last month in which Gartland and Bruce worked well as a central defensive pairing. The Blues are also reported to have sent representatives to monitor Gartland playing for his club throughout the Irish season, which runs through the summer and ended recently.

The 6ft 1in tall defender, who won this year's Setanta Sports Cup and Eircom League with the Boynesiders, has two years left on his contract and would command a low six-figure fee.

Meanwhile, former Town boss George Burley says he could be interested in the Scotland manager's job: "About 500 people have been linked with the job.

“If you have a Scottish accent you've got a chance. But any opportunity to manage the national team is something I'd be interested in."

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