Luton trio Chris Coyne, David Bell and Matthew Spring are today's players claimed to be interesting Town manager Jim Magilton. The League One club are in major financial straits with a fire sale expected to take place to keep them afloat.

Australian defender Coyne, 29 is the Hatters' current skipper and was previously linked with the Blues in the summer of 2005. A number of Championship clubs are reported to have shown an interest in the former Dundee and West Ham man, including Colchester United.

Bell, 23, is a midfielder who plays either on the right or in the centre, while Spring, 28, plays in the middle of midfield and is in his second spell at Kenilworth Road after time with Leeds and Watford. Harlow-born Spring was previously linked with the Blues in 1999.

Of the three, only Coyne looks to be a realistic Town target as Jim Magilton looks to strengthen his squad during January.

Magilton has confirmed that he was at the Dundee United-Hearts match on Wednesday, as reported by TWTD on Thursday, but says Polish international keeper Grzegorz Szamotulski was not the man he was watching.

Another player on show that day who may be on Magilton's list of possible signings is Terrors skipper Barry Robson. The left-sided or central midfielder, 29, has impressed this season and is tipped to leave Dundee United during the transfer window.

Robson, who was previously with Rangers and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, has been linked with Celtic, Hearts, Burnley and Wolves in recent months. In August, the 5ft 11in tall midfield man won his first full Scotland cap, having previously played twice at B level. Born in Aberdeen, Robson is contracted until 2011 and is likely to command a seven-figure fee.

Meanwhile, Town are yet to offer contracts to any of their players out of contract in the summer. Senior stars Jason De Vos, Fabian Wilnis, George O'Callaghan, Sito and Sylvain Legwinski will see their deals come to an end in June, along with youngsters Michael Synnott, Ian Miller, Sammy Moore, Chris Casement and Dean Bowditch.

Reports in Ireland claim Town have told O'Callaghan that he will be given his chance to prove himself at Portman Road having returned from his loan spell at Brighton. Eircom League side St Patrick's are also said to have joined QPR, Cork City and Bohemians in monitoring O'Callaghan's situation.

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