Town and Norwich City are keen on taking Blackburn Rovers striker Maceo Rigters on loan for the remainder of the season, according to reports in his native Holland. The 24-year-old has rarely played for the Premier League side after joining them from NAC Breda in the summer.

Rigters has made only two sub appearances in the Premier League this season in addition to two starts and three games from the bench in cup competitions. The former U21 international is understood to be desperate to go out on loan.

The 5ft 10 in tall 24-year-old is a graduate of Ajax's youth academy and played for Heerenveen and Dordrecht prior to signing for NAC in 2004.

Rigters scored in last summer's European U21 Championships final as Holland beat Serbia 4-1, was the competition's top scorer and was named in the Team of the Tournament.

The Canaries are understood to be favourites for his signature at the present time, but with the Blues carefully watching developments.

Boss Jim Magilton says he is continuing to look for loan recruits: "I'm confident of landing at least one, maybe two, of three international players with Premier League clubs before the deadline.”

Fulham's David Healy is claimed to have turned down the Blues and a number of other clubs interested in taking him on loan by one of this morning's papers, while fellow Cottager Dejan Stefanovic is again linked with Town. The Blues' unlikely bid for former striker Darren Bent is unsurprisingly said to have failed.

Goalkeeper-coach Andy Rhodes was present at last night's West Ham-Reading reserve game in which a number of senior players were in action.

If Rhodes was checking out central defenders then Michael Duberry and Ibrahima Sonko, who scored an own goal, were in action for the Royals. If he was looking at strikers, Dave Kitson netted for the visitors, while winger Kyel Reid, who Jim Magilton admitted interest in earlier in the season, was in the West Ham line-up.

Town might also be in the market for a goalkeeper in the summer if Stephen Bywater fails to impress during his loan spell. Adam Federici was between the sticks for the Royals, while a certain Richard Wright was initially down to play for the Hammers but was replaced by youngster Adam Street at the last minute.

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