French left midfielder Fabrice Ehret has told a German newspaper that he twice turned down the chance to join the Blues during the transfer window. The 28-year-old preferred to remain with his current side FC Köln to fight for his place.

Ehret has not featured for his newly-promoted Bundesliga club this season, but is hoping to regain favour with the team he has played for since 2006 and with whom he has made 54 league appearances.

The Swiss-born former French U21 international started his professional career with Mulhouse in France, moving on to Racing Strasbourg in 1998 after just one season.

A spell with Anderlecht in Belgium followed during which time their coach Hugo Broos said Ehret "can control the whole left flank and also is strong in attack". After that Ehret joined Swiss club Aarau for a season, prior to moving to FC Köln.

The Frenchman is the second FC Köln player to have been targeted by the Blues during the transfer window. A fortnight ago the German club revealed that Town had made an unsuccessful bid for Slovenian international striker Milivoje Novakovic.

Town continue their search for a left-sided midfielder with West Ham's Kyel Reid, Middlesbrough's Adam Johnson and Chelsea's Scott Sinclair all believed to be on Jim Magilton's emergency loan short-list.

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