Town are continuing to chase Preston North End defender Sean St Ledger, according to some of this morning’s tabloids. On Tuesday the Blues were reported to have been quoted a fee of £2.5 million for the Irish international.

Owner and chairman Marcus Evans showed his willingness to hand new boss Paul Jewell significant transfer cash earlier in the week when a deal understood to be well in excess of £1 million was agreed with Swindon for Charlie Austin, the striker ultimately joining Burnley after Town were unable to agree personal terms.

Evans would probably not stretch to paying as much as £2.5 million for St Ledger but at 26 the centre-half, who is rated as one of the best defenders outside the Premier League, is likely to have a future resale value.

Preston would in reality probably accept a figure somewhat lower than the one quoted earlier in the week, despite St Ledger being under contract until 2012.

Having progressed through the youth system at Peterborough, St Ledger went on loan to Stevenage Borough in 2004.

After making the breakthrough at Posh, the Birmingham-born defender joined Preston in July 2006 for a fee of £225,000.

St Ledger moved to Middlesbrough on loan at the start of last season, having impressed in his time at Deepdale. The short-term spell was expected to turn into a £4 million permanent switch but the 5ft 11in tall defender failed to settle in the North-East and returned to Preston.

Qualifying to play for Ireland via his grandfather from Carlow, St Ledger has won 16 full caps and has scored two goals.

Continuing reports that the Blues are looking to move for an experienced right-sided central defender are likely to increase speculation that Gareth McAuley’s time at Town might be close to coming to an end.

The Northern Irishman, whose current Blues contract is up in the summer, turned down Town’s initial offer of a two-year deal before Christmas, with SPL giants Rangers having been interested in signing the 31-year-old last summer but failing to match the club’s valuation.

McAuley and skipper David Norris were due to speak to new boss Paul Jewell regarding their futures towards the end of last week. The January transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday night.

Photo: Action Images

blues1 added 17:52 - Jan 30 oh dear, im fed up of keeping pointing out 2 those who keep slagging off clegg, that he can only negotiate deals within the wage structure set by the owner, so how is it his fault if deals not go through 4 players we trying 2 sign. we have 2 have a wage structure 2 prevent a repeat of what happened in the burley/sheepshanks era, that ended up with administration. should that happen again its likely you wont, not only not have clegg 2 blame but wont have a club 2 support as that cld be the end of itfc. so just get behind everyone at the club, regardless of who they are.

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Skip73 added 17:57 - Jan 30 No chance of getting him for the simple fact that its down to Clegg to sort out personal terms. I very much doubt we'll sign anybody with that idiot in charge of negotiations
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blueherts added 18:23 - Jan 30 Agents are the scourge of modern day football - especially those with a young English player .. Look this month has been most positive in months and months as a Town Fan - Got rid of a clown , Got bright new Management team , got some resurged players back - Signed up CW on a new deal , got Bullard in and at last look at have players playing in correct positions - And yes we are being linked with some half decent players BUT we are not gonna be held over a barrel by agents - Sheepshanks paid over the odds in 2001 and look what happened then !!! some people on here have such short memories and afew have rose tinted specs believing we shoudl have our old Ipswich back - times have changed in the world , in business and in football - may not be for the best - but it is what it is . ME gave Keane a pretty free rein and he cocked up big style - probably now having to be more cautious and working , quite rightly in parameters Clegg is no diff to many other CExecs in not having a football background , but ME and him are in charge - stop be moaning the fact and start backing the team and being positive - I thought the moaners had gone with keane - apparently not .

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dirtydingusmagee added 18:28 - Jan 30 i hate text messages !
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fourth added 18:55 - Jan 30 So it's "Follow me up to Carlow"? (youtube, Dubliners)
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bluelady added 18:55 - Jan 30 blueherts, thank you !
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corshamblue added 19:18 - Jan 30 Blueherts, how do you explain the Exec's allowing so many contracts to run down, Macca's being the moot point. He was subject of much transfer talk over the summer with less than a year on contract, nothing was offered until the point of other clubs being able to talk the individual. Both the Skipper and former Skipper had offers to sign on at a reduced rate, not something you'd expect to offer you Player of the Year! Not sure anyone on here said this isn't a business working with parameters, they're voicing an opinion that it's being done so in such a way that many long term fans don't understand. In many eyes incorrectly. I for one think Clegg hasn't a clue what he's doing when it comes to footballers contracts, I've not seen an argument that holds water otherwise. Would love you to expand, bluelady seem to agree with you too, maybe she can join in?

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corshamblue added 19:21 - Jan 30 ^^ Your player of the Year! ^^ Bonkers if you ask me. It's not all doom and gloom but I don't get it why we can sign Bullard (albeit a short term deal) and not McAuley?? Simply don't get the maths of replacing him for like-for-like.
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bluelady added 19:36 - Jan 30 corsham i am not expanding in full again, i have on many occaisions given my view. I do agree whole heartidly that we should never have let the contracts get to this stage, 100% behind that argument. BUT as I have said i think Jewell will get far more involved that Keane did, will help bring that footballing business knowledge and that we should all look to back the team and try to be postiive and see what the manager brings over the coming months.

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corshamblue added 19:49 - Jan 30 Bluelady, your spot on there. I think PJ will get the squad he wants in the Summer, very pleased CW's extended his contract too. I guess 'Don't Panic' is what we're looking for. Thanks for a balanced view, I'm going nuts here . . . guess I was being harsh. COYB.
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blueherts added 19:55 - Jan 30 Hey guys - we all have positive views on future and with PJ - Good We have differing opinions on Clegg and Co As far as contracts go - correct -should not have happened- However - as a Manager , I would have thought RK would have pushed harder to get them renewed earlier - maybe he was happy to let them slide - it would probably fit with his 'style of management'- we may never know ..... lets draw a line and enjoy Derby - Bullard vs Savage !!,,I will!!

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costadelblue added 20:04 - Jan 30 just read that rangers are looking to make more signing before the window shuts could they mean GM it would make sence of us going in for st ledger. also i agree with wicket get rhodes back kean sold him with in days of coming to are club it should not of been aloud
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bluelady added 20:09 - Jan 30 Corsham, oh trust me i had a good old rant over the ustin thing, but had to sit down and give myself a talking too - hate the entire agent thing and do feel we were played on that one so think Clegg got it right for a change not engaging in a silly war of wages - we want passionate players not those full of greed. Trouble is with youngsters like that they have the chance of either making it or partying the money away and getting injured all the time (Dyer ring a bell?)... glad we are all passionate about our club, thats what makes it so special.

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come_on_blues added 20:12 - Jan 30 we have the players are young guns need to play and grow and show what they got, we have always had a good youth players time to play them.
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ClassyIpswichLass added 20:25 - Jan 30 Love the racing puns Phil. Keep ém coming. ;-)
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Tractorog added 20:49 - Jan 30 I have the feeling that negotiations might fall at the last fence.
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h32 added 20:51 - Jan 30 People keep referring to Agents as being a/the reason we are not signing players (other than the proverbial loan) - Agents are unfortunately part of today's game, and are here to stay, so get used to it. Doesn't seem to cause a problem for other Clubs to sign players - other than one close to my heart !! - why should that be I wonder ? Don't keep talking about wage structure either - it needs to be whatever currently fits the Club's AMBITION of course.

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h32 added 20:55 - Jan 30 bluelady - ..... like your last line of your last post - thankfully that's one thing most of us believe in.
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dirtydingusmagee added 21:08 - Jan 30 Tractorog ,are you John McCruiks lovechild ?
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Back_The_Boss added 21:17 - Jan 30 Blimey! Thats a lot, get him cheaper at the end of the season. COYB.
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portman23 added 21:22 - Jan 30 sign him now before abyone else trys to, if borough were about to pay £4mil then get him for£2.5mil
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bobble added 21:44 - Jan 30 why cant we just put a mill and a quarter on the favourite in the 4th race at next ascot and buy the best bloody striker in the lower divisions with the money ?
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Bergholtblue added 21:52 - Jan 30 Fed up with speculation and 'reports in tabloids' wake me up when we actually sign someone.
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blueherts added 21:56 - Jan 30 Hoof Hearted in the 3.30 at Uttoxter
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denhamblue added 22:18 - Jan 30 why bother with this transfer topics,it wont happen.
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