TWTD understands the Blues are in talks with former Portsmouth striker Oli Hawkins.

A big frontman has been among manager Paul Lambert’s main targets this summer and at 6ft 5in tall Hawkins certainly fits that bill.

The 28-year-old started his career in non-league with North Greenford, Hillingdon Borough, Northwood, Hemel Hempstead Town and Harrow Borough.

The Ealing-born striker got his break in league football when Dagenham and Redbridge signed him in January 2016.

In August 2017, the Daggers by now in the National League, Hawkins moved on to Portsmouth.

The centre forward, who has also operated at centre-half on occasion, scored 18 goals in 71 starts and 25 sub appearances before being released by Pompey, with whom he won the EFL Trophy in 2018/19, when his contract was up this summer.

Last season he was rarely involved, and when he was often in central defence, failing to find the net in nine starts and four sub appearances.

Hawkins was previously linked with the Blues in January 2017 when he was with the Daggers with Town subsequently signing another towering striker, Kieffer Moore, from Forest Green Rovers.

On the day Moore joined the Blues, ex-Town winger Darren Currie, then the Daggers' assistant manager, gave BBC Radio Suffolk's Life's a Pitch his thoughts on the pair.

“Oliver’s very similar to Kieffer Moore, obviously I’m going to be biased and say Oliver’s better!” Currie said.

“He’s another one that for a big man is good on the floor, very mobile for a big man, he’s got goals. He’s filled in at centre-half for us once or twice and he’s looked very comfortable there as well.

“He’s a great kid to work with, very humble boy, came from Hemel Hempstead, so his roots are very good and he’s gathering interest as well because he’s been playing very well.”

Hawkins could be one of three new additions with the Blues also holding contract talks with left-back Stephen Ward and goalkeeper David Cornell, as TWTD revealed earlier today.

Meanwhile, Town have organised an in-house game for Saturday, their previously scheduled game having fallen through.

Peterborough similarly saw a proposed match fall by the wayside and, after it was suggested the two took on one another, owner Darragh MacAnthony tweeted that he had contacted Blues manager Paul Lambert only to be told Town already have plans.

Photo: Action Images

Marcus added 10:49 - Aug 14 When looking at stats it's worth considering he also plays in defence sometimes so it isnt fair to compare him against a dedicated striker. Kieffer Moore was criticised when he joined, blasted when playing for us and people on here said it was a relief when he left. Yet he's done well since. We need to overcome this obsession with expecting the worst with players signed for their potential and development

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BeattiesBackPocket added 10:52 - Aug 14 Marcus I agree to a point however kiefer was a hell of a lot younger than a 28 year old journeyman with yet another poor goals to games ratio. We know we need some height up front but there are better players about
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tractorboybig added 11:28 - Aug 14 Some supporters need to get real,,,, we are a third rate crap outfit with a useless dip as manager.We have an owner who has killed us...bottom line we are not going to get anyone who is any good/ Good young players will come through our system and be sold off at the earliest opportunity. That is now this once great club.
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BlueNomad added 12:08 - Aug 14 The usual suspects on here moaning about lack of ambition, getting someone “better” than anyone we are linked with etc. We all know what mistakes the club have made over the past twelve years and feel that our place is in the top two divisions. We now have to adapt to L1 and build a team that can get us back there against the background of salary caps, COVID-19 etc. I can't think of anyone's name in the Wycombe team except Akinfenwa who just happens to be a big lump who brings others into the game. L1 isn't about stars, it's about the sum of a team's parts.

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BlueBlood90 added 12:19 - Aug 14 It's absolutely criminal that we're now looking for a lanky 6ft6 striker after selling Kieffer Moore for £750k.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 12:50 - Aug 14 Ironically Moore just sold to Cardiff, he looked cr@p at Portman Road, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
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gosblue added 12:52 - Aug 14 Well said JD&C. To add to that we may finally be able to defend against set pieces with this guy.
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Linkboy13 added 20:31 - Aug 14 Yes Beattie's back pocket There are better players about but they won't be coming to us we are shopping at B&M now.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:59 - Aug 16 If he can battle up front, win some headers and create chances for some of the other players, then that's all we can ask of a guy who is released from an L1 club on a free transfer. I don't expect him to set the world alight, but at least he's something different to what we had. While we expect him to win some headers, he also seems to score several goals with his feet - seems to pop up at the right time on occasions to just tap the ball in the net; so he's welcome to continue with that trait with us. Welcome to ITFC, Oli. I won't judge until you've been given a fair chance to show what you can do in our set-up.

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