Town defender Alex Bruce is a summer target of Blackburn, Hull and Leeds, according to one of this morning's tabloids. It's a busy morning on the transfer gossip front with the Blues said to be amongst a number of clubs eyeing a move for Celtic's Paul Hartley.

Bruce is out of contract at the end of the season, having turned down new terms offered in January, and new Town boss Roy Keane is reported to have battle on his hands if he wants to keep the central defender, the son of his former Manchester United team-mate Steve, due to the interest from elsewhere.

The same Sunday tabloid reports that striker Michael Chopra will be on Keane's summer shopping list, the former Newcastle man having been one of the Blues boss's most expensive signings when at Sunderland.

Chopra, 25, has hardly been a success at the Stadium of Light since his £5 million July 2007 move from Cardiff, where he is currently back on loan, coming on as a sub against the Blues last week.

However, the former England U15, U16, U17, U18, U19, U20 and U21 international showed he could score goals at Championship level in his first spell with the Bluebirds, netting 22 goals in 44 games in a single season at Ninian Park.

Meanwhile, in the Scottish press, Newcastle, Town and German side Hannover 96 are all said to be interested in Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley.

The Glasgow giants are understood to have failed to trigger a clause in the former Hearts man's contract which would have added a year to his current terms and the 32-year-old could now be available on a free transfer if no new deal is on offer at Parkhead.

Newcastle are said to be leading the chase for the Scottish international, who is believed to be keen to stay with his current club if at all possible .

Hartley started his career with home town club Hamilton before moving on to Millwall, Raith, Hibs, Morton (loan), St Johnstone and Hearts before joining Celtic in 2007.

Town are also said to have shown interest in Queen of the South striker Stephen Dobbie, who has reportedly signed a pre-contract agreement with Swansea City. The Blues, QPR, Norwich City, St Mirren and various other Scottish sides are also said to have been chasing the 26-year-old, who has scored 23 goals in Scottish League Division One this season.

Elsewhere, former Blue Alan Lee has said he wants to stay with current loan club Norwich regardless of whether they are relegated to League One later today. Lee joined Crystal Palace from Town in August, but moved to the Canaries on loan in March.

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