Swansea’s Alan Tate is understood to have been one of Town boss Paul Jewell’s central defensive targets but injuries at the Liberty Stadium mean the 30-year-old is now required by the Swans. The Blues manager has been repeatedly thwarted in his attempts to add to his two current centre-halves, Tommy Smith and Luke Chambers.

Easington-born Tate started his career with the Manchester United academy, spending time on loan at Royal Antwerp in 2001/02 before two temporary spells with Swansea.

Tate, who stands 6ft 1in tall and is contracted until the summer of 2015, joined the Swans permanently in 2004 and since then has played for them in every division from League Two to the Premier League at the centre of the defence, full-back, occasionally in midfield and on a couple of occasions even as an emergency keeper.

Having been the club’s Player of the Year in 2009/10, he missed much of the last campaign after breaking a leg in a bizarre golf buggy accident when his leg was caught between the buggy and a tree.

His chances this season looked likely to be limited but he has come back into the picture due to former Arsenal man Kyle Bartley suffering a thigh injury, full-back Neil Taylor being ruled out for the season with an ankle injury sustained a fortnight ago and Garry Monk sidelined with a back problem.

Speaking on Thursday, Blues boss Paul Jewell said a deal to sign an unnamed target was all but done until another player at his club suffered an injury: “We had one lined up where we were going to buy him but the injury came and I understand the manager’s point of view.

“We agreed a fee, the personal terms wouldn’t have been a problem, the injury happened and that was aborted.”

Meanwhile, Sunderland's Fraizer Campbell has been linked with a loan move to the Championship with the Blues, Hull City, Burnley and Huddersfield all said to be interested.

Town are unlikely to be in the market for the 25-year-old England international striker or winger with adding centre-halves very much the priority.

Photo: Action Images

Cakeman added 10:47 - Sep 16 That's unfortunate. He would have been ideal, a solid experienced defender who has always come across as being a winner with a good attitude too.
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TractorCam added 11:52 - Sep 16 “We agreed a fee, the personal terms wouldn't have been a problem, the injury happened and that was aborted.” Typical
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irishtim added 12:00 - Sep 16 Same crap every day. Sick of it.
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Michael11 added 12:07 - Sep 16 Big shame, good player. Go back in January!
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NoelTheDub added 12:11 - Sep 16 Same old itfc story the minute we look at a player he starts playing for his club.Kelvin wilson was the same I think has played every game for celtic and st ledger also ,the jinx goes on.Whos career can we rejuvenate next.This saga is getting to me big time every day a new name with the same outcome.PJ try austrailia for a cb fly him over do medical at our expence then he will turn us down and sign for sydney fc and that will be the last straw.If we miss any more targets we,ll have no arrows left or this new guy will end up playing cb.Maybe send an SOS out to all clubs thats how bad this epic story is..

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meekreech added 12:26 - Sep 16 Maybe if Swansea have been allowed to sign a player we could go back this week ? I saw they were trying to make an emergency signing but have not heard the outcome .
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NoelTheDub added 12:33 - Sep 16 michael11.I agree the type of player we are looking for but where was he at the start of the season or last week for that matter. the problem now with loans is that the player becomes a yo yo and you dont have a settled back four.Every week we are hoping a player is not called back ,how can you prepare a team for a match with this in mind.
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walberswick added 12:56 - Sep 16 Amateur hour.
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bobble added 13:06 - Sep 16 i just got sent a paul cooper and clive woods " the sun" football cards any body want them for $500 each ? these are the real good ones that don't have a photo of the player but a colourful drawing...
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Keaneish added 13:43 - Sep 16 Shame! He's quality!
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Edmunds5 added 13:52 - Sep 16 How frustrated does PJ want to make me feel...
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TractorBoy666 added 14:19 - Sep 16 Would of been a great signing. PJ looked happy int front of the sky camera's didn't he?!
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 14:44 - Sep 16 and just in case we didn't sign him, Plan B was? What do you mean no Plan B?
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manualthetisfanclub added 14:53 - Sep 16 Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.............................................................next link!............................boring..................
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PauloJulio added 15:16 - Sep 16 Didn't he own Home Farm in Emmerdale?
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richnblue added 15:56 - Sep 16 what relevance is this now? move on....
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blueconscience added 16:09 - Sep 16 Who cares who the targets we failed to land were.
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bluey123 added 16:20 - Sep 16 All these stories you cant believe a word Jewell says I expect he was going to sign all sorts of players who has he signed NO ONE
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alfromcol added 16:23 - Sep 16 Edmunds5 It's Phil who is making you (us) frustrated by raking up the story. Do we really want to know of another 'reported' link??
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Edmunds5 added 17:41 - Sep 16 alfromcol- Your right, good point, just an instinctive reaction from me, a player is said to be linked, and there is always a reason he cannot join. Would love to see us be linked with a player and the next day he's smiling whilst holding up a Town shirt, though like you say rumours just stoke up the fire.
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walberswick added 19:18 - Sep 16 Why don't we try Eliington as a centre half? (Or pay him up)
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Garv added 19:21 - Sep 16 Shame. Unlucky.
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Talbs77 added 20:57 - Sep 16 This is a nothing report as we didnt get him! Yeah he might have been the answer, but as we didnt get him we'll never know. This "hunt for a centre back" after what, over a year of trying, is turning into a complete drama.
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afrodids added 21:26 - Sep 16 who gives a sh*t! total non-story!
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 21:38 - Sep 16 No Tate? Bovered? Jewell should be with no Plan B!
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