Town and Swindon are reported to be among a number of EFL clubs interested in FC Halifax Town striker Liam McAlinden.

The 26-year-old has scored 10 goals in 20 league starts and six sub appearances this season since joining the Vanarama National League side after leaving Cheltenham in the summer.

According to Football Insider, McAlinden’s short-term Shay contract is up this weekend and plenty of EFL clubs - among them the Blues and Robins - have been alerted to his availability on a free transfer.

Cannock-born McAlinden, who won caps at U21 level with both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, started his career at Wolves during which time he had spells on loan at Fleetwood, Shrewsbury and Crawley Town.

In 2016 6ft 1in tall McAlinden moved on to Exeter, then after two years joined Cheltenham. Following stints on loan with Brackley Town and Kidderminster he joined Halifax in the summer.

Town would appear well covered for strikers at present with Freddie Sears having recently returned to the fold after injury, joining fellow senior frontmen James Norwood, Kayden Jackson, Will Keane and Jordan Roberts in the squad.

However, it is not impossible that Roberts could move on in January - the 25-year-old has made only one brief League One appearance this season - and that the Blues might look for an additional option up front.

Manager Paul Lambert has said on a number of occasions that Town may have to sell in order to buy during January, and has also admitted that offers can come in which can’t be turned down.

General manager of football operations Lee O’Neill says the Blues want to keep their most talented players but says that there could be scope for wheeling and dealing during the window.

"We want to keep hold of our better players and our younger players as long as possible to try and give us the ability to go to the next level,“ he told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"If it's right in a business sense and provides the chance for reinvestment in the future, it's something we will look at. But ideally we would like to keep them at the football club as long as possible."

A month ago TWTD revealed that Fulham have been keeping tabs on Flynn Downes and QPR have been watching Luke Woolfenden.

The Blues are yet to receive any offers for any of their players with the transfer window having opened yesterday.

Photo: TWTD

Saxonblue74 added 09:34 - Jan 3 Warktheline, go ahead and re write it! Football is as much opinion based as it is fact, I'd like to hear yours.
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Bluearmy_81 added 09:38 - Jan 3 Saxon, Evans terrible ownership has hit us hard more than anything...
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r2d2 added 09:40 - Jan 3 Look at the depths Evans has finally taken us. What a time to be an Ipswich fan.
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ITFCsince73 added 09:48 - Jan 3 Vardy, Mings. And before them Les Ferdinand and Ian Wright. All started in non league. But for those 4 another 3000 who fail to make the grade. If you play semi professional at mid 20,s it's because you aren't good enough to be professional. Are we really being linked with this type player....dear god.
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ITFCsince73 added 09:54 - Jan 3 But then again....we have Will Keane . Nearly 10 years as a pro, but hasn't reached double figures in goals scored. Even though scoring is supposed to be his trade. If it wasnt for growing up at Man Utd, would be a semi professional now.
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Carberry added 10:55 - Jan 3 This is the pool we are fishing in now. You would have to be a genius to make this master plan work and that is not a quality PR Paul has. He's sold his soul hasn't he, gone to the dark side for a few pieces of silver. He will know very well he won't make this 'project' work but he's sorted out his pension and made sure he at least comes away with a healthy bank balance, but nothing positive for his CV. At the next press conference would someone ask him what all that 'I could leave' BS was about? No? Didn't think so.

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Northstandveteran added 11:08 - Jan 3 Sign him up on a 5 year contract. If in that time he fails to impress, extend it by another two for being a good old boy. Blue Army!
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GeoffSentence added 11:43 - Jan 3 Might be worth sending Roberts out on loan to the Vanarama National League and see how many he could bag at that level.
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eddiespearitt03 added 15:05 - Jan 3 The sort of purchase that is just right for Marcus Evans. We have players like Ben Morris/Folami/Lankester/Rowe/Dobra and Drinan who should be ALL given their chance more often. What Evans needs is a big broom to sweep the tired senior players who offer nothing except a bit of PR. We will keep stuck with Evans continually selling our better players. Then it is another line of excuses "Oh well, adjusting to League One takes time, we will give it a right go next season" .Then the "The fans have been great blah blah blah"

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Billybobblue added 15:06 - Jan 3 Not sure if its just me, but should we be looking to get a more accomplished centre back to Partner the Wolf and Wilson at the back? After Wycombe and Lincoln the issue with the defence (IMO) is the leadership and someone who can organise the defence and tell the keeper to stay in his 6 yard box at the right times! Then again, if we want a more direct McCarthy approach like 14/15 with hoof ball to a target man (like Murphy) to get promoted then so be it. Football isn't pretty in this league, so why dont we play ugly as well if the results will come from it. I think Pulis played that type of style when he managed Stoke City when they were first promoted to the Premier League.

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