TWTD understands Leicester City striker George Hirst, who spent 2021/22 on loan at Portsmouth, is among those on the Blues’ list of potential summer recruits.

Adding firepower to the squad is high on Town’s priorities during the close season with Kieran McKenna’s side having been unable to turn dominant displays into goals on a number of occasions.

We understand 23-year-old Hirst is one of a number of frontmen under consideration following an impressive loan spell with Pompey during 2021/22 in which he scored 15 times, all after the start of November.

Hirst, the son of former Sheffield Wednesday and England frontman David, started his career with the Owls and as a youngster played for England’s U17s, U18s, U19s and U20s featuring alongside Andre Dozzell, Flynn Downes, Tristan Nydam and Nick Hayes.

The 6ft 3in tall striker joined Belgian second division side OH Leuven in June 2018, then a year later moved on to Leicester.

Since signing for the Foxes he has made only two sub appearances, spending time on loan at Rotherham in 2020/21, failing to score in four starts and 28 appearances from the bench, before this season’s spell at Pompey.

Hirst, who was nominated for April’s PFA Fans’ Player of the Month award, has another year left on his Leicester contract.

Elsewhere, Colchester United have confirmed the departure of former Blues keeper Dean Gerken, 36, while ex-Town midfielder Emyr Huws, 28, is in talks about staying with the U's having joined them on a short-term deal in January.

Photo: Reuters

wellsy700 added 10:32 - May 13 Would be a great addition
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BlueBlood90 added 10:34 - May 13 I really like the sound of this. A good age and an impressive goal scoring record in this division last season.
6

MickMillsTash added 10:37 - May 13 NO idea but Leicester have a good eye for a player 6 ft 3 means - could he help us score some more 'basic' back post goals ?
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Josh271092 added 10:39 - May 13 Useful as a plan B but I would be aiming higher than this.
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PortmanTerrorist added 10:40 - May 13 ....and the rumour mill begins. Suspect we will be linked with all manner of players this summer, but that when we do our business, we will not get warning and probably will not be for the players people think. Relax all, and wait for real news rather than idle speculation which I appreciate does keep ITFC folks coming back to TWTD through the summer.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 10:44 - May 13 We need a couple of strikers so would be happy with this one as he has proven it this season in this league but we need to invest in a proven 20 plus season striker who's still doing it personally would throw money at Peterborough for Clarke-Harris a natural finisher we haven't had since waghorn 31 goals in league one and 14 goals in the championship so someone we could still use if we went up and 27 years old so experienced and could help the likes of Hirst and other young strikers.

5

Cakeman added 10:46 - May 13 If he turns out to be as good as his Dad then he will be a great signing. David Hirst was at Wednesday when they were at their best.
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TimmyH added 10:53 - May 13 Maybe a more physical type striker is what we need...had a reasonable season with Portsmouth. Personally I'd like us to sign a striker with a proven record at a higher level (yes it would be costly and would they want to move a league down)? i.e. Weimann Will be interesting to see if we get any links to Man United for loans this summer.
7

Bluearmy71 added 11:29 - May 13 Until it happens no point in speculating, lets get the targets through the door then wax lyrical about them!! But to be fair to this lad if is half as good as his dad was then he's gonna be a tidy player!!
3

OsborneOneNil added 11:48 - May 13 How is Huws still only 28??
0

churchmans added 11:59 - May 13 What about cole stockton!!!
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churchmans added 12:01 - May 13 There is no striker better in league 1 than morecambe cole stockton 26goals for poor morecambe! Could see 30+goals with us!
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Stu_boy added 12:03 - May 13 If we learnt anything about tge way the club works from last summer, it's that we don't hear about who we are after signing until it's pretty much on the dotted line. This looks like agent talk and nothing more plus Leicester will want to review him during pre season so even if he foes become available we really need to get our top players sooner than waiting to see if someone might be available

2

cantona11 added 12:06 - May 13 Yes I wouldn't mind but past records don't mean a thing when you are talking about strikers (i like Piggott but for some reason he's not got much game time like Bonne did without scoring) it's if you fit in the the teams playing style I personally would go In for Cole Stockton (big old fashioned CF)that has a eye for goal look where he scored a few of his goals last season and Dwight Gayle not had his chance at Newcastle would want fair wages we won't be taken fir mugs anymore so I think we could do a deal as he's not playing atm

3

Veggie added 12:33 - May 13 Ooh this could be good
0

The_Prof added 12:48 - May 13 Whichever striker we sign, it needs to be someone who can operate in whichever style KM decides we're going to play, and different strikers have very different attributes that suit particular systems. Alan Brazil was fantastic for Ipswich playing with Muhren threading the ball through to him but was lost at ManUre, who played with two (very good) wingers at the time. Will Keane would have been my vote for most inept Ipswich striker ever, but whatever it is about Wigan's approach has certainly played to his strengths. I have faith that they'll identify players who are the right fit.

3

Paulc added 12:48 - May 13 People baffle me! Why make comments like "Useful as a plan B but I would be aiming higher than this." and "Personally I'd like us to sign a striker with a proven record at a higher level"? Why would a proven goal scorer at a higher level want to come to tin pot L1? No matter how attractive WE might be as a proposition, no one decent would drop this low. We will sign proven goal scorers from this or lower level, or we'll bring in high potential players from a higher level that are yet to prove themselves. Which would be fine by me.

1

Help added 12:49 - May 13 This is what I like the summer of speculation. keep the rumour mill turning
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blues1 added 12:49 - May 13 Churchmans/cantona11. Cole stockton is rubbish. Yes, hes had à good season this year but look at his record. He's had almost as many clubs as Frank nouble, and as bad a goalscoring record too. There's usually a reason why a player has a lot of clubs. That they're not good enough.
3

cressi added 13:46 - May 13 Regards Hurst been excellent but only since Xmas maybe he has found his feet maybe not There are more proven out there it's what McKenna wants
1

Flamencaman added 13:55 - May 13 Only wish Mark Noble had a season in him would help us out enormously,we nearly signed him, what a fabulous servant he's been to the Hammers,definitely need a couple of tough guys out there
1

Bazza8564 added 14:47 - May 13 I like the look of this lad, but everyone we were linked with last year turned out to be nonsense. I seriously think the club leaks a lot of these players out to draw our attention from the business they are already doing and to deflect us. Ive learned a lot from watching Mark Ashton this last 12 months, he rarely gets into anything that leaks beforehand and then surprises us at the last minute. Is it any coincidence that Kiaran McKenna was appointed a few days after it leaked out that Neil Harris' interview had happened ? Im not expecting Ronaldo but there will be players lined up, without a shadow of doubt!

1

Stato added 15:50 - May 13 I'd like to see us spend at least £5m on a striker who will be the envy of every club in our division but maybe Game changer believe McKenna can get us promoted without that sort of investment.
0

therein61 added 17:43 - May 13 The rumour mill be throwing all sorts of players in our direction i trust in Ashton who works wonders behind the scenes and we will only know who the player when it's a done deal, The one thing for sure both he and the manager will want business done earlier than later to hit the ground running at the start of what is the clubs most crucial season for several years, onwards and upwards you Blues.

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midastouch added 18:19 - May 13
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