Town will target Wolves left-back Stephen Ward if Wigan firm up their interest in Aaron Cresswell, according to reports from the Midlands. Blues boss Mick McCarthy took the transfer-listed Irish international to Molineux from League of Ireland Bohemians during his time as Wolves boss.

Ward, 27, has been linked with Town ever since McCarthy took over, but an approach has always seemed unlikely while Cresswell is at Portman Road.

The 23-year-old former Tranmere man has been mentioned in connection with a number of clubs this summer with reports last week claiming Wigan see him as a replacement for departed left-back Maynor Figueroa, who has joined Hull City, despite the Latics already having recruited another left-back, ex-Blackpool man Stephen Crainey.

Dubliner Ward, who operated as a winger and a striker earlier in his career, played youth football with Home Farm and Portmarnock before joining Bohemians in 2003. Having been a Town target he joined Wolves for £100,000 in January 2007.

The 6ft 1in tall full-back was told he isn’t in new Wolves manager Kenny Jackett’s plans last month.

Ward, who has won 18 full Ireland caps, scoring twice but is currently out of his national side, is contracted until 2015 and is reported to be one of the higher earners at Molineux. That could rule the Blues out of the running for his signature even if Cresswell were to move on for a significant fee.

Elsewhere, Notts County are said to be reluctant to sell keeper Bartosz Bialkowski, who we reported was targeted by Town earlier in the week.

The Blues could come face to face with old by Shefki Kuqi in their Capital One Cup tie at Stevenage in August with the League One club linked with the 36-year-old Finnish international striker, who is a free agent having left Hibernian.

Another former Blues frontman, Sunderland’s Connor Wickham, is said to be wanted on a season-long loan by Birmingham, Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Town squad fly back from Ireland today having spent Saturday night out in Dublin following their 2-0 friendly victory over Shelbourne.

Photo: Action Images

Tractorog added 10:08 - Jul 8 Not Ward. No.
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