TWTD understands the Blues are among a number of clubs showing interest in free agent former Derby County skipper Richard Keogh.

The 33-year-old centre-half was sacked by the Rams last October for gross misconduct having suffered a season-ending knee injury when a passenger ex-Town loanee Tom Lawrence’s car in the drink-drive crash which led to two-year driving bans for both the Wales international and team-mate Mason Bennett.

Keogh’s appeal against his sacking was rejected by Derby but he has taken his case to the EFL with a hearing to be held by an independent panel.

The injury - anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligament damage - was expected to keep the Republic of Ireland international out of action for around a year and it’s not clear when he will be ready to return.

Nevertheless, it’s believed a number of clubs, including the Blues, are showing interest in the one-time Bristol City and Stoke City man.

Whether a move to League One would appeal remains to be seen and it seems likely that some of the other interested parties could offer him Championship football.

If Keogh does join the Blues it would be a return to where the Harlow-born defender began his career.

Keogh was an academy schoolboy and ballboy at Portman Road in the early 2000s before being released at 16 when he joined Stoke.

Another centre-half is high on Town manager Paul Lambert’s summer wish list with free agents likely to be where the Blues look to make most of their recruits.

Elsewhere, former Town centre-half Matt Clarke, 23, has been named Derby’s Player of the Year having spent 2019/20 on loan at Pride Park from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Photo: Action Images

blue86 added 15:30 - Aug 3 A few years ago keogh was a top championship CB, and a player I would love to have here. However, we really want someone to gel with the squad and be ready for the season start. I would take him though on a 1 year deal to see what his got to offer. Nsiala needs to go, and I'm sorry but chambers shouldn't be near the first eleven either imo.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 15:34 - Aug 3 This guy was club captain at Derby and bossed a champ defense. Yes comming back from a long injury is a worry but I think at L1 level he will be fine. He would still be at Derby now if they had any class as a club, they saw a way to get out of paying his wages... the 2 (younger) guys who did the drinking and the driving are still there.... its clear discrimination to me. Had that not happened he'd still be at the heart of that defence and maybe Derby wouldnt have choked (again 😂😂😂) so to my mind a champ player is getable.... Now if hes not fit until Nov it seems a rather more futile signing but does anyone know how his recovery is going. I'm not sure we will find a long term (i use the term loosely) successor to Chambo atm but if this guy gave us 1 good season and helped us back up long term options maybe easier to come buy. Bottom line, if fit, Keough is an upgrade on Chambo as player so if fit and we can get him. I'd take him. Also OF COURSE we are looking at frees this year... the club has just taken a huge financial hit (again).... if you lose your job do you keep shopping at Waitrose?

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HalesworthBlue7 added 15:43 - Aug 3 eme
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roystevensonsrocket added 15:50 - Aug 3 Oh dear oh dear . I hope if we do take him on I hope we give him a contract basic pay with a much better appearance pay .we don't know how quickly he's going to be fit and what effects it has on his form .
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planetblue_2011 added 15:54 - Aug 3 Worth a season or 2 contract he's 33 but got good couple of seasons left in him. These are the players we need to get us up. A bit of experience needed!!
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chepstowblue added 15:57 - Aug 3 Makes calamitous errors,injury prone, but better than anything we've got. I'd take him for a season or two.....not that he'd want to come to us anyway!
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Tufty added 16:16 - Aug 3 Absolutely no Passes then stops to admire it Had a mistake built in to every game Also not a great role model NO NO and thrice NO
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Tufty added 16:17 - Aug 3 Plus refused a pay cut at Derby so probably would not want to come anyway
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HalesworthBlue7 added 16:21 - Aug 3 Not for me , why for a change can,t we do some early signings , them up the road have made 9 already . Surprise us Marcus sign the lad from Bristol , Garbutt at left back , a dominant centre half and anyone else with searing pace anyone else to add to these...Please can we seriously have a real good go at promotion this time
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Bluearmy_81 added 17:30 - Aug 3 Surprise us Halesworth?! You can say that again!!
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TimmyH added 17:36 - Aug 3 Blimey I remember when we were interested in him when Roy Keane was appointed and Keogh was at Coventry...shows how far we've come in that time NOT!
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Taricco_Fan added 17:39 - Aug 3 Nope.
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Lathers added 18:06 - Aug 3 Massive donkey. Must be a distant relative of David Linighan. No thanks, hope we sign one of the many other younger L1 or L2 freebies available atm.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 18:44 - Aug 3 If to replace Chambers - yes If to replace Wolfy - no
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SheptonMalletBlue added 19:59 - Aug 3 Better than the current dross we have. I'm referring of course to first pumper!!!!
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have_a_word_with_him added 20:34 - Aug 3 Embarrassing to be linked. From who do "TWTD understand" is what I'm interested in?
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blues1 added 20:56 - Aug 3 What's really amazing, but not surprising for many of those who post on here, is that what's being said " hes too old"? Hes 33. Yet those same people have for the past 3 years, saying we should have resigned Murphy. Who is now 38. So was 35 when suggesting we should resign him. Obviously, the injury is a concern, but if fit, would be a great signing. Would undoubtedly help Woolfenden, having him playing alongside him. And unlike some older players weve signed in the past, who were simply out for a last pay day, he would care, being a town fan himself. But of course, much would depend on the injury situation.

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KiwiBlue2 added 21:13 - Aug 3 Unfortunately the injury puts me off notwithstanding his experience and the fact he started his career here. We need someone who is a bit younger and ready to go and who stakes an immediate claim for a starting spot so that LC has less playing involvement.
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ThaiBlue added 21:18 - Aug 3 Keogh and chambers at the back,no thanks.
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RegencyBlue added 21:19 - Aug 3 Only on a pay as you play contract. Another sick note is not what we need!
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jas0999 added 21:21 - Aug 3 Well done to Matt Clarke. Just goes to show how easily we get rid of our promising players. As for Keogh- we may as well give up. Ageing player with injury problems. No thanks.
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oldegold added 21:25 - Aug 3 For God's sake....how we have fallen. Better to pay attention to how Clarke was let go
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Lathers added 21:25 - Aug 3 Blues1 - you clearly haven't seen Keogh play. He was a donkey aged 20 and is still a donkey now, but slightly slower. Age isn't a reason to discount a player, but ability is. He's cr@p. We need to set our sights on better players if we want to have a realistic chance of getting back up. I think we need 2 new CBs to replace Wilson and Nsiala.
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blues1 added 21:30 - Aug 3 Lathers. Typical comment from some on here. If he was crap, he wouldnt have played anywhere near as many games as he has, or at as high a level as he has.
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midastouch added 21:34 - Aug 3 I see him being more Steven Taylor than Tony Mowbray.  And man does he look old in that picture for 33!  Ginger Pele looked the part against Barnsley at home but sadly his injury problems soon surfaced thereafter.  Most players we've signed that have a history of injury problems, have only carried on that trend when they arrive here.  The problem is with nothing to spend we will continue to scrap around in the bargain basement where there's not much else but crocks and old bangers!

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