Watford midfielder Gavin Mahon is the latest player to be mentioned in connection with the Blues. New club owner Marcus Evans will provide boss Jim Magilton with £12 million to spend on fees and players' wages once his takeover is formally accepted at next Monday's EGM.

Magilton is keen to sign two or three players in January, but is unlikely to spend anything like all the money he has available to him. However, with Town's new found wealth well known, transfer speculation is likely to be rife in the weeks to come.

Mahon, 30, started his career with Wolves but moved on to Hereford United on a free transfer without making a senior appearance. After a year-and-a-half with the Bulls, Brentford paid £50,000 for the 6ft 1in tall defensive midfielder.

Watford laid out £150,000 for his services in March 2002 and in the years since the Birmingham-born player has made 205 starts and 10 sub appearances, scoring seven goals.

Mahon has been left out of Aidy Boothroyd's side on a number of occasions of late and the Watford manager says he may decide not to offer his club captain a new deal. Mahon's current contract up at the end of the season.

At the weekend, QPR were linked with a £150,000 bid with Wycombe Wanderers also reported to be interested.

Mahon, who is 31 in January, looks to be an unlikely Town target with Jim Magilton generally looking at signing younger players.

Meanwhile, Jon Walters has not been named the Championship Player of the Month for November. The former Chester man was pipped by Charlton's Chris Iwelumo. Walters was nominated alongside Iwelumo, Hull's Dean Windass and Sheffield Wednesday's Akpo Sodje.

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