Leeds and West Ham continue to be linked with Blues youngster Elkan Baggott with claims that the Indonesia U19 international could be available for between £150,000 and £300,000 in compensation during the January transfer window.

Last week it was reported that the two Premier League clubs are eyeing Baggott after the centre-half turned down the offer of a professional contract with the Blues.

Now, according to Football Insider, who behind the previous story, the Whites and Hammers have held preliminary talks regarding Baggott who they have been told will cost between £150,000 and £300,000.

However, TWTD understands Baggott has not turned down Town’s contract offer, although has asked for time to consider the deal.

The 6ft 4in tall defender is currently a second-year scholar with an agreement for a third year in the academy already in place and Town are confident he will ultimately put pen to paper on pro terms. It also seems unlikely that the Blues would have named a price in the manner suggested.

The Thailand-born defender made his first-team debut in the Papa John’s Trophy tie at home to Gillingham earlier this season and travelled with the senior squad for the League One fixture at Plymouth last month.

Baggott has been one of the top performers for the Blues' U18s who have reached the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup this season.

Last week, former Blues striker Darren Bent said he had been impressed with what he has seen of Baggott.

Photo: Matchday Images

grow_our_own added 14:35 - Jan 12 Yes too right Dissboyitfc. That loanee McGuinness was given first team chances instead of Baggott is everything that is wrong with ITFC. Grow our own!
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BeattiesBackPocket added 14:47 - Jan 12 As I've said for ages this is why we cannot implement this regurgitated 5 point plan Evans is on about every year past 7 years as once they reach a certain age unless you're cat one they can be taken by cat one clubs for compensation. We've sold numerous kids the past few seasons to those in that category. In evans defence he cannot be blamed for these rule and players being swung by these clubs OR the fact we're not cat one as it is an elitist club and one we will never get into unless we go into the premier league and we have no way of stopping it what I DO blame evans for is lying or making claims towards his 5 point plan he knows damn well we cannot implement.

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Bert added 14:55 - Jan 12 That's a valid point BBP. It is football itself that is making it possible to raid clubs. The compensation is a pittance relative to the potential yet the men in suits allow it. Baggot has potential as seen in the Youth Cup games but it is too early to tell what he is capable of. I hope we resist this as our future is at stake and so is the future of the player if he goes to a bigger club and does not progress. There are many things not quite right about the club (let's not go there today) but the Academy is a bright spark which we must continue to invest in.

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TexacoCup added 14:55 - Jan 12 We know he has a big following in Indonesia - 135,000 on instagram, so if he makes it there's money to be made from shirt sales etc
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Blue_Meanie added 15:01 - Jan 12 Anyone come in for Chambers yet???
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bluelodgeblue added 15:18 - Jan 12 BBP you make some decent points but this is the price we are paying for Evans trying to get cat 1 on the cheap?
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RegencyBlue added 15:48 - Jan 12 BBP Evans could, and should, have gone for CAT 1 status when the system first started but didn't do so to save a few quid! Once he realised his mistake he then applied for CAT 1 status but by that time the clubs already there had decided they didn't want anyone else to get the benefit of it and made it incredibly difficult to qualify. Another example of Evans penny pinching coming back to bite the club on the bum!

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timkatieadamitfc added 16:01 - Jan 12 Why don't we just play him tonight 1/ if he plays well it'll up his price and may get others interested 2/ if he doesn't play well it may put suitors off, which I'll be happy with as he should stay and play at least a season with us for experience, trouble is even if he stays I can't see him playing under PL
0

Pilgrimblue added 16:06 - Jan 12 This is why I ask what's the point of having an Academy! Our best recruits get stolen by Prem sides and then disappear while most of the rest never make it and are released so all investment is lost. Better to follow Brentford who only sign players for their U23/Reserves and then reap the real benefit of larger transfers.
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Pilgrimblue added 16:06 - Jan 12 This is why I ask what's the point of having an Academy! Our best recruits get stolen by Prem sides and then disappear while most of the rest never make it and are released so all investment is lost. Better to follow Brentford who only sign players for their U23/Reserves and then reap the real benefit of larger transfers.
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blues1 added 16:43 - Jan 12 So many commenting on here, early dont get it. There is nothing the club can do to stop him going. This is dow to the ridiculous rules that are in place, that a player can be taken from the club who have brought them up through the ages, and before theyve signed a professional contract, for a small compensation fee. And it's a shame, bcse chances are, like the other players whove left this way in the past few years, if he does go, he'll never be heard of again and likely end up in lge2 or lower. These young players need to be advised better. Fact is, hed be much better off staying and progressing through to the 1st team . Then, if hes good enough, offers will come later. Whatever some think, hes not ready for regular 1st team football here yet. And while moving will get him more money, it's unlikely itll be good for his footballing career, long term.

1

blues1 added 16:53 - Jan 12 Tractorboy2421. Your post is wrong in just about every point you make. If he wants to play, going to pl club isnt gonna get him that chance. In fact, hed likely never see the light of day, just like the others whove left over the past few years. Then ME, doesnt get any money. All that money goes into the club. And whether he goes or stays, he wobt be anywhere near our 1st team yet. Hes not ready for that. Not on a regular basis. Why some of our fans go so overboard about some of our young players I really dont know. Yes, hes a decent player, with great prospects. But hes played in a papa johns trophy match, and suddenly to some hes the next virgil van dyke. I've seen this all before with the likes of dean bowditch and Josh Carson to make but 2. Players who come through the ranks, get a few games in the 1st team based on good performances, then disappear. So i dont get carried away anymore.

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blues1 added 16:59 - Jan 12 Timkatieadamitfc. How can we play him tonight when we dont have a match tonight?
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raycrawfordswig added 17:25 - Jan 12 Don't let the door hit you on the arse on the way out.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 17:31 - Jan 12 Regencyblue I couldn't agree more that's what annoys me about his 5 point/year plan and I do blame him for that. If we didn't get in first year we definitely won't now as every club in that category one are premier league r former premier league clubs when they applied or got in.
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Saxonblue74 added 17:55 - Jan 12 Anyone remember the two young lads that went to Arsenal and Man City a couple of years ago? That's worked out so well for them I can't even remember their names! These young lads need to think very carefully before signing for "big" clubs before they're ready.
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Old_Blu added 17:55 - Jan 12 If I was the agent representing the player, then I would advise him to accept the highest offer open to him, as this would maximise my commission. If I was the player wishing to get game time, I would probably want to stay at Ipswich, though on a 2 year contract, just in case things weren't working out . He does look to be a good prospect and I hope he has good advice from someone other than his agent.

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BrandonsBlues added 18:43 - Jan 12 It does not matter what happens to him. If he signs and PL puts him in the first team he will only have the quality beaten out of him and turn in to yet another mess of a footballer. Maybe if he is lucky he will be played out of position by PL as well. Why do I feel so depressed and angry about anything to do with this club at the moment.
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istanblue added 19:35 - Jan 12 Marcus Evans: A big part of my 5 point plan is to bring through academy players Marcus Evans when there is a chance of some quick cash: SELL SELL SELL!
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brassy added 19:37 - Jan 12 what happened to the young lad who went to man city?
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brassy added 19:40 - Jan 12 sky has ruined the game
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blues1 added 19:46 - Jan 12 Istanblue. Typical comment from someone eho clearly has no understanding of how this works. Marcus Evan's isnt trying to sell him. In fact, hes been very critical of the situation surrounding young players whove yet to sign contracts, beingvallowed to leave clubs if some1 comes in for them. There is nothing Evan's, or anyone else at the club can do about it.
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blueprint added 20:27 - Jan 12 We may as well scrap the academy . How much have we really benefited from it. Anytime anyone shows promise at a young age they're off for pittance.
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dannyrr added 21:35 - Jan 12 Unfortunately he was probably unlikely to get a start for us for some time - so no real surprise - and the lure of not playing 1st Division football
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LWNR2013 added 09:44 - Jan 13 Aren't all apprenticeships a platform to move on to bigger and better careers. How many trainee carpenters, bricklayers, accountants, blah blah blah stay with the same employer that trained them. A nearly qualified craftsman is cheap labour and once qualified moves on. Don't see anything wrong with ambition.
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