TWTD understands that the Blues will go back to Plymouth Argyle with a second offer for midfielder David Norris before the weekend. The Pilgrims turned down Town's initial £1.5 million bid for the 26-year-old earlier in the week.

Boss Jim Magilton revealed on Tuesday that Town's offer for a player had been turned down, although neither club has yet confirmed that Norris was the man targeted. The Town manager added that he was deciding whether to make a second bid, something we understand he will do later this week.

TWTD has learnt that the Blues offered an initial £1 million for the former Bolton Wanderers, Boston United and Hull City man, which would have risen by another £500,000 after Norris had made a set number of appearances and if the Blues had won promotion to the Premiership.

The new offer is likely to take the overall deal nearer to the £2 million mark with top-up clauses again making up part of the fee.

Town's attempt to sign Norris comes as no surprise after months of speculation. Back in the summer, Magilton confirmed rumours on the TWTD Message Board which claimed Norris was the ball-winning midfielder he had targeted earlier in the close season.

The Blues boss had made an enquiry to then Plymouth manager Ian Holloway but had been told Norris wasn't for sale. Around the same time, Southampton, whose poor financial state appears to rule them out of a bid now, failed with offers of £700,000 and £1 million, while Crystal Palace and Leicester have also been linked on numerous occasions in the last few months.

Plymouth chairman Paul Stapleton recently said he will offer Norris a new contract in January with the midfielder's current deal up at the end of June 2009.

Norris joined the Pilgrims in December 2002 for £25,000 from Bolton, who as part of that deal are due 50% of any fee Plymouth receive for the Peterborough-born midfielder.

A recent local newspaper report in the South-West claimed the Pilgrims were seeking to renegotiate the terms of that deal with Wanderers, although this seems unlikely to happen with so much interest in Norris at the present time.

Meanwhile, TWTD has learnt that Sunderland have been keeping a close eye on Jon Walters during his impressive first half of the season. Wigan and West Ham have previously been linked, while Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has already denied his interest in the 24-year-old.

Town are certain to rebuff all but a hugely over-the-top bid with Walters contracted until 2010. Chester City will be hoping otherwise as the League Two club are due 20% of the profit the Blues make on the £100,000 plus top-ups they paid for the Irish B international a year ago.

Elsewhere, Town target Laurent Robert says his reputation has prevented him from finding a club in the French league: "In France it's difficult. I've been in France for three weeks and it has chilled me to hear quite a lot of managers saying they are scared of my character.

"I think the best thing now for me is to go back to England and shine there."

Former Newcastle man Robert, whose contract with Spanish side Levante was settled at the end of November, watched Town's home game against Burnley with ex-Magpies chief scout Charlie Woods, now a coach with the Blues, and has been invited to Portman Road for a trial.

Meanwhile, former Town speed merchant Gus Uhlenbeek has announced that he is returning to Holland in the summer to play for Ajax's amateur team. The Dutchman, now 37, has been in English football since joining the Blues from TOP Oss for £100,000 in 1995, leaving Halifax at the end of last season.

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