TWTD understands Town are hopeful of completing the signing of Burnley winger Michael Kightly before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Wednesday, while talks are ongoing with trialist striker Leon Best regarding a deal.

The Clarets are unwilling to allow Kightly to move on until they have added to their squad, but are expected to make signings before Wednesday’s deadline.

The 30-year-old, who previously played for boss Mick McCarthy at Wolves, was with Tottenham as a youngster and moved on to hometown club Basildon United and then Southend before making his mark in non-league with Grays Athletic, with whom he won the FA Trophy.

In 2006 Town boss McCarthy took him to Molineux, where he was a key player in their 2008/09 Championship title-winning season.

Kightly, who has a year left on his contract at Turf Moor, moved on to Stoke City in August 2012, then joined Burnley on loan in September 2013 and helped them to second spot in the Championship and into the Premier League.

The former England U21 international made the move permanent the following summer and was a member of the squad which, following their relegation in the previous campaign, topped the Championship last season to return to the top flight.

Kightly’s only appearance so far this season was in the 1-0 EFL Cup loss to Accrington Stanley last Wednesday. He was an unused sub as the Clarets lost 3-0 at Chelsea on Saturday.

As previously reported, TWTD understands that Kightly’s Burnley team-mate Lukas Jutkiewicz - also an unused sub at Stamford Bridge - is on Town’s list of potential replacements for striker Daryl Murphy, who joined Newcastle United at the weekend.

Meanwhile, we understand the Blues are in talks with trialist Best regarding a contract, probably to the end of the season, the 29-year-old having impressed boss McCarthy during his week at Playford Road.

It seems likely Town and the former Ireland international, who scored for the U23s in last Monday’s 3-2 home defeat to Birmingham City, will agree terms.

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace winger Sullay Kaikai is reported to be interesting Brentford, who hope to take him on loan.

The 21-year-old, who was watched by Mick McCarthy earlier in the summer, was erroneously claimed to have been spotted at Portman Road on Saturday watching the Blues defeating Preston.

Photo: Action Images

RRanger added 12:02 - Aug 30 Surco72 Digby has hardly played for the 1st team so far but MM thinks he has great potential as a centre back. Were you at Middlesboro towards the end of last season? He had an absolute blinder and was one of the main reasons we got a draw.
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rugbytomc added 12:18 - Aug 30 will be pleased to see Kightly arrive- Mick has been after him for a while, knows him well, proven at this level, helped Burnley finish top just last year but as it seems with teams going up and the money they have to spend, they are able to just discard players. Rhodes and Adomah linked with moves away from Middlesborough for example. Jutkiewicz i'm less convinced about. I see him more as a Tamas Priskin and not the next Murph. Murph has never been a donkey, he's just been played out wide a lot and not been given a run up front. He's always had a level of pace and he's always had finishing and power and size. This guy however has always been a striker and just never really excited me. Would rather we signed a proven goalscorer from a lower league (if we can't afford one from this league like Nakhi Wells for example) but it's only paper talk for now and Mick knows best. COYB

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runningout added 14:16 - Aug 30 does he
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Seasider added 17:07 - Aug 30 Blue Finn doesn't look like its Omar,whoever he is, to replace Murph;but none other than Leon Best,surprise surprise!!! Topguy,you say Mick has spent 3/4 million on bringing players in this year,well I think its only £1,350,000;which I agree is considerably more than previously. Blues 1-if Noel Hunt was such a good buy,then why was he released at the end of his first season on a Free to Southend? Re the article I would think Kightly will be the last of the players Mick had at Wolves to be signed, as the rest are now too old to play in the Championship!

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