Town boss Jim Magilton has confirmed that the Blues are interested in signing former Newcastle midfielder Laurent Robert. TWTD was first to break the news of the Blues' interest in the 32-year-old French international on Sunday.

Magilton said: “If Laurent Robert was available I would encourage him to come to the club so we can look at him. He is someone we know has all the qualities we like.

“There is a possibility that we can take him in and it will be down to Robert if he wants to come and be part of this club.”

Left winger Robert, who was spotted by a TWTD Message Boarder having lunch with Town coach Charlie Woods prior to Saturday's game with Burnley, is available on a free transfer having recently settled his contract with Spanish side Levante.

The former Montpellier, PSG, Portsmouth and Benfica man knows Woods from his time at Newcastle when the Town coach was chief scout during Sir Bobby Robson's spell as manager.

Former boss George Burley tried to bring Robert, a dead-ball expert, to Town from PSG in the summer of 2001, however, the £10 million fee and £30,000-a-week wages on offer at Newcastle saw the Blues drop out of the race.

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