Town appear to be getting closer to completing the signing of Swindon striker Charlie Austin. The Robins have accepted a bid believed to be somewhere between £1.5 million and the £2 million figure originally targeted by League One club, presumably including various clauses. The Blues have been given permission to discuss personal terms with the former Poole frontman and we understand talks are currently taking place.

Burnley, Blackpool and Southampton are understood to have made offers for the 21-year-old with some reports claiming they have also been given permission to talk to the player, Austin having handed in a transfer request last week much to manager Danny Wilson's annoyance.

But Town continue to look very much in the driving seat and are understood to have offered the player a three-and-a-half-year deal at Portman Road.

Austin was not expected to train with the Robins today with Swindon director Jeremy Wray anticipating that the striker's exit would be confirmed in the near future: “It could come to a conclusion in the next 24 hours. We will hold out for the best bid for Swindon Town and for Charlie Austin.”

The Blues were previously linked with the £2 million-rated frontman in December 2009 soon after the former bricklayer’s emergence from non-league.

Austin was with Reading’s youth set-up as a schoolboy but dropped out of the professional game, playing with Thatcham Town and hometown side Hungerford Town before joining Wessex League Premier Division club Poole Town in 2008/09.

The 6ft 2in tall striker scored a hugely impressive 46 goals in 46 starts and two sub appearances as the Dolphins won their league by 17 points and also picked up the Dorset Senior Cup.

In the summer of 2009, Austin spent time training with Bournemouth but was unable to join the League Two side due to their transfer embargo. Instead, he signed for Swindon until the end of the 2009/10 season for an undisclosed fee in early October, having already netted 18 goals in 11 appearances for Poole, who remained in the same division despite winning the previous season’s championship.

Austin, who subsequently extended his contract until 2012, netted a further 20 goals for Swindon in his first season in professional football, helping them into the League One play-off final where they were beaten by Millwall.

This season he has continued in a similar vein, scoring 17 times and taking his overall record with Swindon to 58 starts, seven sub appearances and 37 goals.

Town chief executive Simon Clegg was spotted at Playford Road this morning, presumably to meet with manager Paul Jewell regarding the Austin deal and Jimmy Bullard's loan switch from Hull, which was confirmed this morning.

Meanwhile, we understand there is nothing in this morning's reports linking Jason Scotland with a return to his former club Swansea.

Photo: Action Images

theladf added 14:29 - Jan 27 Happy days at the road for a change COYB
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Karlosius added 14:31 - Jan 27 Hello good times!
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bluekraut added 14:32 - Jan 27 Goals, Goals, Goals is wot we need and this lad could give them to us!!!
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PartyDaz added 14:34 - Jan 27 I think I just did a sex wee!
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feelinblue2 added 14:34 - Jan 27 Roy Keane............this is what real management is all about, perhaps you should take note. Looking forward to seeing the completed deal.
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MajorBlue added 14:36 - Jan 27 Brill signing if we get but lets not expect too much too soon as the pressure put on Sam Parkin prevented him making the step up a division.
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I_8_NARWICH added 14:36 - Jan 27 Bullard and Austin in one day (maybe) This has been a hell of a week for the blues. Im glad we are finally being linked with some GOOD players :D COYB
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Super_Hero added 14:40 - Jan 27 Swindon press are reporting Burnley and Blackpool are out of the race. Just us now. http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/8817424.Austin_set_for_Ipswich_talks/
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byronitfc added 14:46 - Jan 27 I have refreshed twtd about a million times today....
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sonian_blue added 14:46 - Jan 27 Excellent news, about time we had this sort of signing. Cannot get excited about Bullard. Injury prone loan that with his reported wages could upset the applecart. But Austin....YES Here we go...onwards and most definately upwards. Look forward to seeing him start at Derby. COYB Boys
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rogie_dog added 14:59 - Jan 27 http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/leagueone/news_articles/8817424.Austin_set_ Between us and Blackpool if this is to be believed.
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ITFCOYB added 15:02 - Jan 27 COME ON YOU BLUES! Sign him up! We'd have 3 very young strikers with bags of ambition and talent. Could be that we are assembling a core that can really take us up and keep us in the Prem like in the Burley years... If the players fully buy into this revolution and we get on a winning streak we could be very well set for a full charge next season. COYB!
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bluekraut added 15:03 - Jan 27 How do I get my Avatar to show?
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ArnieM added 15:03 - Jan 27 So if Town do manage to get Bullard and Austin over a period of just two days, it kinda trashes the theory that Roy Keane said that he wasnt able to sign anyone due to our location!!! That is the biggest load of hogwash RK ever came out with !!
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jackele added 15:06 - Jan 27 blue army!!!!!!!!!
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Upbeat~ added 15:06 - Jan 27 He'll be having a medical some time within the next 20 hours and then he'll be an Ipswich player come tomorrow lunchtime. Terrific news COYB
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jackele added 15:14 - Jan 27 charlie austin here we come
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Lightningboy added 15:16 - Jan 27 Good times again...Bullard & Austin could potentially be brilliant signings for us...would make sense to let either Scotland or Priskin go if the Austin deal happens. God,how this club has turned around in the space of 2 glorious weeks. Great being linked with/buying players who aren't in sunderland's reserves.
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Bergholtblue added 15:18 - Jan 27 I am just too frightened to excited about this, in case it doesn't come off. Hurry and sign him the suspense is killing me!!!!!
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ArnieM added 15:29 - Jan 27 Just give him a bloody pen , someone NOW !!!
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TimmyH added 15:36 - Jan 27 Austin has potential but so has a number of signings in the last few years, I'd personally get rid of Scotland. Now for a right back! :)
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:40 - Jan 27 great if this happens ! with Bullard on loan too ,its all livened up,what will the next big story be ?...................bobble has landed ,
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TheBarmyBlue added 15:42 - Jan 27 Why would you get rid of scotland though. He is our top scorer and you can't expect an new signing and two kids to be consistently scoring. And what about competition for places? COYB
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bluelady added 15:43 - Jan 27 Meanwhile, we understand there is nothing in this morning's reports linking Jason Scotland with a return to his former club Swansea. BarmyBlue seems it was lazy paper talk
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Super_Hero added 15:54 - Jan 27 BBC have just got hold of the story
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