TWTD understands that Colchester United have turned down a Town offer for left winger Ben Dickenson.

The 23-year-old has impressed since joining the U’s from Gillingham in the summer and was nominated for the EFL League Two Player of the Month award in August.

A hamstring injury suffered in September sidelined him for six weeks but he returned to action as the U’s - who are currently seventh in League Two - went on a run of nine games without a defeat.

Dickenson, born Brennan but often known as Ben, was with the youth set-ups at Southampton, Poole Town and Christchurch but made his breakthrough into senior football with non-league Dorchester Town.

The busy Ferndown-born winger’s performances for the Magpies caught the eye of Brighton, who signed him for an undisclosed fee in January 2012.

Spells on loan at Chesterfield, AFC Wimbledon and Northampton followed, before he moved on to Gillingham in June 2014 having been unable to break into the Seagulls’ first team.

Despite having become a regular with the Gills, Dickenson, whose valuation is likely to be in the low hundred thousands, was released last summer and joined Colchester on a two-year deal. Since joining the U’s he has made 21 starts and two sub appearances, scoring seven times.

While primarily a left-sided wideman, Dickenson has recently played at left wing-back for Colchester and has also operated as a left-back and up front.

Elsewhere, The Daily Mail claims the Blues and Brentford have both offered £1.5 million to Wigan for midfielder Max Power, who was previously linked with Town earlier in the month.

The Blues are said to have offered better personal terms to the 23-year-old former Tranmere man.

The same paper also reports that Burnley, Cardiff City, Derby County, Newcastle United, Norwich City and Sunderland have all made enquiries to Leicester regarding Town loanee Tom Lawrence.

The 23-year-old is with Town for the season with manager Mick McCarthy having said he will not be leaving Portman Road this month even if the Foxes receive interest in signing him permanently from elsewhere.

Under the terms of his loan Lawrence can’t return to the King Power Stadium in January unless all three parties - the Blues, Leicester and the player himself - agree to it.

The report also claims the Foxes are willing to sell the Wales international for £1 million, which seems highly unlikely.

Meanwhile, Preston North End striker Jordan Hugill says Town’s interest in him is flattering.

The Blues are understood to have had a £1.5 million bid for the 24-year-old rebuffed by the Lilywhites earlier this month.

“I try to stay out of it, it’s nothing to do with me,” Hugill told the Lancashire Evening Post having scored both goals as his side drew 2-2 at Aston Villa on Saturday.

“It’s flattering but my job’s here. I want to score goals and I want to do well. I play for Preston North End and that’s where my focus is, that’s where I want to be.”

Photo: Action Images

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:37 - Jan 24 Don't know anything about this lad, so don't take this personally, Ben, but this rather looks like our usual bargain basement replacement for the Scunthorpe boy, who we won't get. There are no doubt a number of reasonable young players like Ben out there, but I just wonder whether it wouldn't make more sense to throw another couple of million at the Academy and produce them ourselves.

1

woohoo added 07:48 - Jan 24 Ooops - well, I guess £1 would be a bit optimistic. I'm sure ME would run to £5
2

shakytown added 08:29 - Jan 24 Spot on Kiwiblue. Midfield is the engine of the team and ours is totally seized. We need to fork out some serious cash 5 million + and get a top class midfielder in and our youngsters will flourish around him . Nothing good will ever come from the likes of Douggie and the other over the hill carthorses that Mick likes.
5

Berts_chin added 08:58 - Jan 24 If we're scouting Colchester, surely the form of Owen Garvan can't have gone unnoticed. The U's turn of form has 100% coincided with his return to the team, even losing their first game in months when missing the Exeter game last weekend. He was destined to be the long term replacement for Magilton until Keane shipped him out along with Rhodes and Haynes. Keane's legacy is still being felt.

8

KiwiBlue2 added 09:39 - Jan 24 Shakytown - agree entirely with your point that we need to spend some serious money on central midfield. Of the reputed 4 x 1m bids we have in I would be delighted if it ended up 3m for acknowledged cm powerhouse (not Max at this stage) and 1 m for a second cm dynamo ...... to describe our current central midfield as 'seized' is very polite of you ...... I would describe it in much less gentlemanly terms.......

3

Palestine added 09:50 - Jan 24 The exiled Blue in Wales doesn't rate this lad, but his goalscoring record at Col U is ONE IN THREE!!!!! Can any of our STRIKERS match anything close?! Sounds tasty to me... To be honest, if this is true I am at least slightly heartened by the fact we have bid some proper money for players...now ME needs to stretch a bit more and make a couple happen. Relegation would cost more...

0

brittaniaman added 09:50 - Jan 24 I know that we should not look at other Teams Progress, But it came to light that Bournemouth at the Obama Inauguration (8yrs ago) were 23rd in league 2,, Now look where they are ??? their Progress came in 6yrs because they have been in the Premier nearly 2yrs. well done Eddie I do seem Envious of them, because we have been stuck in this Damn championship for 15yrs. so far and I fear it will be a lot longer ?? we need to refresh our stock,, which looks as though they are trying to do, with just a little success so far. I do not think we will be Relegated, we will hang around Mid table

1

Surco72 added 10:05 - Jan 24 Brittania totally agree , but Bournemouth set all of their teams even down to under 7s playing the same way that Eddie Howe wanted , this has now spread over to lower non league local teams who have linked acadamies with Bournemouth and they are all coached in the same way especially with attacking full backs being encouraged to get forward . And they have achieved all of this with crowds of under 12,000

5

runningout added 10:16 - Jan 24 if Lawrence going for that, snap him up now.. At least we are looking at better players than previous.. Hope Taylor is fit and showing form
1

12th_Man added 10:22 - Jan 24 Just get it done town stop being tight and spend some money
0

rickw added 10:25 - Jan 24 It seems like we're working hard on new signings, Dickenson might be good as a left wing-back, I don't think Knudsen really suits the attacking side of that role, so he could provide competition to Kenlock there.
2

brittaniaman added 10:58 - Jan 24 Thanks Surco: Oh for another Eddie Howe type ??
1

Razor added 10:59 - Jan 24 This is beginning to look like another typical ITFC transfer window----lots of hot air and puff and going nowhere. Please prove me wrong but somehow ????
3

BrettenhamBlue added 11:27 - Jan 24 Berts-Chin - there was a solid rumour recently that we were linked with Garvan, but not sure we can afford him. It's hard to know if he'd want to come back anyway.
1

BrettenhamBlue added 11:33 - Jan 24 http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/colchester_united_have_no_reason_to_sell_brennan_dic Seems unlikely to happen.
1

martin587 added 12:17 - Jan 24 I'm as p@@@@d off as the rest of you about all the various rummers who the club are making offers for,and yes I'm not a fan of MM,but we all want the best for our club. A lot of this is just paper talk and until it happens it's pointless knocking the players.Every club is uping the price of players so we really don't know what the offers are. As iv'e said I don't like MM and I would prefer different management at the club,but this is not going to happen yet,or maybe not until the end of the season. With all due respect MM has unearthed a few gems,so maybe there is another one just round the corner.I won't hold my breath,but here's hoping.

1

Geoff added 12:21 - Jan 24 Talk is cheap lets see some action please.
1

Bobby_Petta added 15:09 - Jan 24 I agree with shakytown, we need a playmaker in the midfield, been linked to a lot of wingers, Skuse and Douglas need to move on in the summer, Dozzell will be good but still is young. Forgot Mick only likes workhorse type players who play hoff ball! been saying for weeks now Owen Garven would be worth a punt. We someone who take control of midfield and boss the game.

0

Surco72 added 16:01 - Jan 24 Owen Garvan was at club a few years back training when released by Palace , not MMs type of player at all . Personally would love to see Owen back to actually want the ball and see a pass and take control of games , would be excellent for the likes of Bishop and Dozzell also rather than learning about running around a lot with little production like the majority of our midfielders

0

warktheline added 17:22 - Jan 24 Don't know why McCarthy hasn't signed Bohslegend and swn, "Different class is Bohsey and Swnny". Never know one of them in the near future could aspire to the giddy heights of 'Skip'!!!!!!
2

Carberry added 23:52 - Jan 24 Wingers, wingers, wingers. Why the infatuation with these from a manager whose focus is defending a 0-0 lead? Does it mean he has given up on wing backs already or that Ward has had his chance and blown it? Where is our 20 goal a season, Championship ready, reliable, injury free, striker? If we don't get one signed this transfer window will be a complete disaster.
1

KiwiBlue2 added 00:48 - Jan 25 Carberry - no striker could achieve 20 a season playing in front of our present central midfield. I too would like to see Owen back but MM wouldn't see him as a 'proper bloke'. Suspect MM's attitude to Owen would be similar to Keanes .......
0

tractorboybig added 08:53 - Jan 25 all paper talk. Anyway what gifted talented player would want at present to come to this club.
-1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls