TWTD understands that Town are again looking to sign Nottingham Forest striker Dele Adebola. Chief scout Steve McCall and new coach Ian McParland were spotted watching the Nigerian in action at St Andrew’s on Tuesday as Forest were defeated 1-0 by Birmingham in the FA Cup.

The 34-year-old, previously tracked by Jim Magilton during his time as manager, joined Billy Davies’s club on a free transfer from Bristol City in the summer, having been named the Robins’ Player of the Year last season after scoring 10 goals. The 6ft 3in tall frontman turned down a new one-year deal at Ashton Gate to sign a two-year contract at the City Ground.

Since then the Lagos-born striker has been seen as a squad player, making nine starts and 16 sub appearances, scoring three goals. Forest currently have a surfeit of strikers and may well be willing to agree to either a permanent deal or a loan until the end of the season.

Adebola was brought up in Liverpool, having moved to England as a child, and as a youngster played in the same representative sides as Robbie Fowler.

A graduate of Crewe’s famous youth set-up, he made his senior debut for the Railwaymen in 1992/93 as a 17-year-old, subsequently spending time on loan at Bangor City and Northwich Victoria.

Birmingham ended Adebola’s stay at Gresty Road in 1998 when a £1 million fee took him to St Andrew’s. Having been on loan at Oldham during his time with the Midlanders, he joined Crystal Palace in 2002 on a free transfer.

After a year at Selhurst Park, Adebola moved on to Coventry on a free transfer, during which time Jim Magilton repeatedly attempted to bring him to Portman Road.

Spells on loan at Bradford and Burnley were followed by a permanent move to Bristol City in January 2008.

Adebola came close to winning caps with Nigeria earlier in his career having been named in their provisional squad for the African Nations Cup in 2000, but failing to make the cut.

Northern Ireland had previously been interested in recruiting him via the rule which allows players born outside the UK with British passports to play for any of the home nations, but Adebola declined the offer.

Meanwhile, defender Alex Bruce says he is disappointed that Bryan Klug is leaving the club, as revealed by TWTD last night: “We worked together for four years and had some great times. I owe a lot to him. You speak as you find and he was always very good to me."

Hungarian reports continue to link the Blues, Sheffield United, Coventry and Plymouth with left winger Peter Halmosi. The Hull midfielder was previously mentioned in connection with the Blues late last month.

Town are amongst a number of English clubs being linked with Republic of Ireland U16 international striker Michael Drennan. Aston Villa are said to be favourites to sign the Kilkenny-based youngster with the Blues, Manchester City and Sunderland also believed to be interested.

Elsewhere, former Blue Shefki Kuqi’s move from German side Koblenz to Swansea is reported to have broken down due to the Finnish international’s agent’s demands.

Swans chairman Huw Jenkins said: "[Manager] Paulo [Sousa] was keen on Kuqi, but I looked into that option and sometimes what is demanded comes nowhere near what we are prepared to offer. As things stand, the move is not going to happen."

Ex-Town boss George Burley is reported to have spoken to Kilmarnock regarding their manager’s job, but the role is said to have been offered to former Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood.

Photo: Action Images

Luke8644 added 22:09 - Jan 13 NO! hes too old and is past it, we need to be getting prem reserves not forest ones, this is not the player we want, we want a pacey, nippy striker, not beasty adebola
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HampshireBlue added 22:12 - Jan 13 Please, no. That is all.
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Vic added 22:24 - Jan 13 Surely not! Can you imagine a Stern John/Abebola front line!!!
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Bluecasp added 22:27 - Jan 13 Tell me this is a joke...we need someone with pace upfront.
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Mark added 22:30 - Jan 13 We have been linked to this man relentlessly for YEARS! He may have been a useful squad member a few years back, but surely we are not looking at a 34-year-old journeyman as the answer to our striking problems!? Dele Adebola is older than Stern John! Let's hope this is just paper talk.
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Golaboots added 22:36 - Jan 13 Hardly a shock that we're struggling when we're after duffers like Adebola.
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16_Jack_ken_16 added 22:42 - Jan 13 did any one watch the reading match im not very familar with ther team but their play Mc something would be good signing when he went on hes run from the half way line ??? and is there any news on gio???? Why dont we look at getting burnard and burton just a fort
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Mungo added 22:48 - Jan 13 Vic - I'm trying not to imagine the Stern John/Adebola partnership! He fits the big target man type that RK seems to be looking for and would be much less expensive than Hulse. Now if we could arrange a swap deal for Ben Thatcher...
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jesus added 22:53 - Jan 13 Gods save us. I am 34 and can hardly make it up the stairs. Surely there is someone less age challenged?
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waveneyblue added 23:01 - Jan 13 Lordy!
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Sir_Bob added 23:01 - Jan 13 You're winding me up!
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corshamblue added 23:02 - Jan 13 NO WAY! Please
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up_the_town added 23:06 - Jan 13 maybe they were there looking at kevin phillips.
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OnlyOneSirBobby added 23:09 - Jan 13 why does mccall and mcpartland being at that game mean that we are after adebola? is it at all possible that it could have been to watch one of the 21 other players (he says hopefully!!!)....we dont need a 34 year old striker to rumble around on a saturday afternoon, wev got stern john for that!! however, the halmosi link is more like it, he could do a job, always rated him and wanted him from plymouth before he went to hull!!

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jimmyh67 added 23:24 - Jan 13 i really dont think adebola is the solution i really still believe if tamas priskin gets a run in the side you will see a different lad he needs confidence and a run in the side like all players do i firmly believe that connor wickham who played at leicester last week loked out of his depth dont get me wrong this lad is raw talent and playing john walters up front certainly isnt the solution as in mind thers only one position for john and thats wide right please i would love peoples opinions on my blog come on keano sort it out and lets get together a settled side

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Pique added 23:34 - Jan 13 Is this some sort of madness that afflicts all Ipswich Town managers at some stage? Is it just a phase they go through? Are they being advised by a member of the backroom staff who's got Adebola mixed up with someone else? Or is it part of their contractual obligations that at some stage during their tenure they must engage in an inexplicable and ultimately fruitless pursuit of Dele frickin' Adebola?!?!!!

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terry added 23:56 - Jan 13 Why don't we get Boli Dalebola? He's a good player.
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BobbyPetta added 00:11 - Jan 14 hed do a good job sort of player always bit worried about when he comes on for other clubs against us. including when he came on at pr this season for forrest he caused problems with earnshaw. you lot need to start actually watching games without them blue tinted glasses on you all wear.
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WickedBlue added 00:15 - Jan 14 Never fails paper talk 2+2+5 and suddenly you're all hysterical. Worry about it when you hear that we have put in a bid not when some lazy journalist can't be bothered!
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radiogaga added 00:17 - Jan 14 NO, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!
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itfckieren added 00:37 - Jan 14 Has April fools day come early? As if Stern John hasnt already had he best years when we sign him we are going for another.. Is this the best we can get? All we can attract? This is possibly funnier than hearing that Brian Laws was appointed as the Burnley manager.. Ha!!
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arc added 03:01 - Jan 14 And on the subject mentioned in one passing paragraph: I am glad to see Alex Bruce saying something about Bryan Klug. I obviously have no idea of the circumstances, etc., but I am always sorry to see someone leave the club who has been there as long as Bryan. I hope there will be more statements of gratitude and support over the next few days as the story comes out.
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tractorgirls added 06:41 - Jan 14 April 1st?
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bedsitfc added 06:48 - Jan 14 as keane said "if we sign someone they would have to be real quality, someone that would be a regular starter" so i dont think they were watching him but proberly someone on the fringes of the brum squad
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bedsitfc added 06:56 - Jan 14 oh sheff wed are looking to raise cash and might be willing to listen to offers for marcus tudgay?? he would score quite a few for us
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