Accrington centre-forward Colby Bishop and Hull City skipper Richie Smallwood are the latest players to be linked with the Blues.

According to the EADT, Bishop is among the strikers Town boss Paul Cook is eyeing this summer.

Town have already been linked with plenty of frontmen this summer including Jordan Rhodes, who has rejoined his old club Huddersfield after leaving Sheffield Wednesday, Martyn Waghorn, who we understand was among the players considered by the Blues but seems likely to either stay with Derby or move to another Championship club, and Jermain Defoe, who as we reported on Tuesday was discussed but with his wages putting him out of the running.

As reported earlier in the month, Oldham’s Conor McAleny is another player in whom Cook has shown interest.

Yesterday, Sunderland’s Charlie Wyke was linked by a number of sources, however, we understand the 28-year-old is not on Cook's list of potential recruits.

Bishop, 24, came through the youth system at hometown club Notts County and spent time on loan at Gloucester City while with the Magpies.

Having made only two senior starts and two sub appearances, 5ft 11in tall Bishop left and move on to Worcester City, Boston and Leamington before returning to league football with Accrington in 2019.

Bishop has netted 12 times in each of his two seasons in League One with Stanley, including two against Town in their 2-0 victory over the Blues at the Wham Stadium in 2019/20, one from the penalty spot.

Huddersfield are also reported to be among a number of Championship and other League One sides keen on Bishop this summer. He is contracted to Accrington for another season with the club having an option for a further year.

Central midfielder Smallwood started his career with hometown club Middlesbrough before moving on to Rotherham, Scunthorpe (loan), Blackburn Rovers and then Hull City last summer.

Having been named skipper at the KCOM Stadium, the former England U18 cap helped the Tigers to the League One title and promotion to the Championship during 2020/21, although he missed the end of the campaign with a knee injury.

The Redcar-born 30-year-old has another year left on his Hull contract with the Tigers having an option for a further season, but is said not to be averse to a move to the Blues.

Elsewhere, the Sunderland Echo reports that Sunderland youngster Josh Hawkes, among a number of Black Cats players linked with the Blues yesterday, will be given the opportunity to force his way into the first-team reckoning at the Stadium of Light in pre-season.

Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman told the Sunderland club podcast last month: “Josh's performances with goals and assists [in the U23s] have been really, really good.

“He's right up there in both charts. A player at his age now, he needs to be able to come into the first-team environment. He's trained an awful lot with the first team.

“He's not quite managed to squeeze himself onto the starting XI, which speaks probably more about the quality in the team than to say Josh has fallen short.

“Myself and [manager] Lee [Johnson] are watching almost all the games, Josh has performed really really well and he'll be in the first-team squad for pre-season.”

Photos: Matchday Images/Reuters

WhoisJimmyJuan added 18:59 - May 28 Signing Bishop would be be a cardinal sin........sorry, I had to. I just had to....
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dirtydingusmagee added 21:26 - May 28 Shepton the are a lot of Bishop Bashers on here,and a lot who are carried away with ideas that we have loads of money to spend, gonna be a disappointed people soon when the mist clears .
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Linkboy13 added 21:57 - May 28 gosblue Id be very surprised if we linked to Conner Wickham bearing in mind he's hardly played for about three years. I think we've learned our lesson on injury prone players.
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KernewekBlue added 00:27 - May 29 At the moment, all of these links are pure conjecture and mere paper-talk. When the window actually opens for business, we'll see the real intent, or lack of it, from our new owners and management. Not long now until we find out if they can walk the walk as well as they can talk the talk. Still hopeful!
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Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 04:09 - May 29 I like the idea of Smallwood and Power. High character players, leaders. Give us more, please. Bishop - haven't seen enough of him but this is a crazy time and there's so many players available on free transfers paying for him doesn't seem to be money well spent. Sunderland just talking up Hawkes in order to get a fee. He's 22 and not made it in the first team yet, he's leaving.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 10:13 - May 29 Tend to agree with Monkey Blue. Personally, I'd have kept 2/3 of our squad after we'd released some of the older players (e.g. Skuse, Chambers, Judge) or those with dubious fitness (e.g. Huws etc.). Then I'd have toughened us up with 4-5 new signings - a decent forward, centre back, winger, left-back, and battling midfielder. I think such as Wolf, Downes, Dozzel, and maybe even Nydam , McGavin and El-Mizouni would have then fitted into a much more workmanlike team. But what do I know. I hope Cook has got this right. It may still be the case that this format turns out to be something like what happens, and the fact that everyone is for sale does not necessarily mean they will all leave.

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gosblue added 10:32 - May 29 Linkboy - not suggesting we should get Wickam, I'm just surprised some lazy journalist hasn't made the connection yet. Andros Townsend is also out of contract at Palace. Now that would be a miraculous signing but never gonna happen for two reasons: 1) we can't afford his wages and 2) we are carp and will struggle to attract anyone of quality.
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