Manchester City left-back Michael Ball is claimed to be a summer Town target by one of Sunday's tabloids. The former England international is out of contract and has not been offered new terms by boss Mark Hughes.

Ball, still only 29, made only 14 appearances for City last season after picking up a knee injury. In January he underwent surgery from which he is still recovering.

The Liverpool-born full-back moved to Eastlands from PSV in January 2007 for a nominal fee, having spent 18 months with the Dutch club, after joining them from Rangers for £500,000 in the summer of 2005.

Ball had been with the Glasgow giants since moving from Everton in 2001 for £6.5 million.

The 5ft 10in tall defender was part of Liverpool's youth system as a schoolboy but moved on to the Toffeemen and it was at Goodison Park where he made his mark, making his senior debut in 1997.

Ball won his single England cap in 2001 when he came on as a sub in Sven-Goran Eriksson's first game in charge, a 3-0 friendly victory over Spain.

Town look likely to want add another left-back to their squad this summer with Ben Thatcher the only naturally left-sided player currently at the club. The Blues are already understood to have made enquiries regarding QPR's Damien Delaney and Leicester's Joe Mattock.

With Thatcher still recovering from a knee injury of his own, Town seem less likely to go for another player like Ball whose fitness is in question.

Elsewhere, the Blues are amongst a number of clubs again said to be interested in out of contract Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley. The 32-year-old, who was a team-mate or Roy Keane's at Parkhead, is also linked with Bolton, QPR and Hearts, but is said to be on his way to Greece tomorrow to hold talks with Iraklis Salonika.

Another one of Keane's former team-mates, ex-Manchester United man Quinton Fortune, is again linked with the Blues. The South African was recently reported to be set for trial spells with Town and Birmingham City.

Meanwhile, former Blue Hermann Hreidarsson has received his first link with Town of the summer. The Icelander has been tipped with a possible return to Portman Road on a number of occasions over the last year or so, but has been offered a new deal by Portsmouth, which he is thought likely to sign, while Celtic and Rangers have also been linked with the out-of-contract defender.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls