MLS franchise Inter Miami is among the clubs keeping tabs on Blues central defender Luke Woolfenden, TWTD understands.

The 26-year-old is out of contract in the summer with Town having no option for a further year and a number of sides have been eyeing the Ipswich-born defender’s situation, including, as previously reported, Championship leaders Sheffield United.

We understand Inter Miami, whose president and co-owner is David Beckham and star player Lionel Messi, are another of those who have Woolfenden in their thoughts.

The 26-year-old, a key man in the back-to-back promotion side, returned to the Town team over Christmas having been out of favour for much of the first half of the season following the signing of Dara O’Shea.

However, the Blues subsequently added another right-sided defender, Ben Godfrey, to their squad on loan from Atalanta, and the former Everton and Norwich man replaced Woolfenden in the XI against Manchester City.

In addition, Axel Tuanzebe, whose primary role throughout his career up to joining Town was right centre-half, made his return from his hamstring injury as a sub against the Premier League champions on Sunday.

Town are likely to allow a number of players to move on during this window ahead of submitting their revised 25-man Premier League squad.

While 20-year-old Julio Enciso, whose loan signing from Brighton is set to be completed today, won’t be included as he’s under 21, Godfrey and Jaden Philogene will, while the Blues will also be looking to bring in a new number nine before the Monday 3rd February deadline.

Manager Kieran McKenna has previously said that discussions have taken place regarding Harry Clarke going out on loan, with Sheffield Wednesday among the Championship clubs interested, while Ali Al-Hamadi was yesterday in talks with West Brom about a permanent switch, a proposed move which fell down.

Town could free up one space by removing injured winger Chiedozie Ogbene from the squad with the Irish international not expected to be fit following achilles surgery until the end of the season at best.

Photo: Matchday Images

bluelad7 added 14:57 - Jan 22 If it is true I’d be disappointed but at the same time I’d be over the moon for him. What a chance to play alongside Messi etc. Even if he went for three years, what a life experience returning aged 29 and walk back into a minimum Championship team or newly promoted Premier team (might even be us!). I’d go without a blink of an eye.
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Monkey_Blue added 15:08 - Jan 22 I’d be hard pushed to rank our centre backs this season. I certainly couldn’t say Woolfy has been poor vs anyone else. However if you are woolfy you’d think you might not be the long term in our defence and at 26 he could get a relatively blockbuster contract on a free transfer this summer.
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HampBlue added 15:10 - Jan 22 TBH looks like good move for all involved. Great opportunity for him, while we have strengthened heavily in this area.
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benslifeyt added 17:59 - Jan 22 I mean I wouldn’t blame him if he did move to them …. I imagine being promoted with boyhood club this would be next best thing playing with a great in messi
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armchaircritic59 added 18:02 - Jan 22 I can imagine if you told LW just a few months ago, that he could end up at a club co owned by David Beckham, and have Lionel Messi as a team mate, he'd almost certainly direct you to the nearest Psychotherapist! Life moves in mysterious ways! If it happens I wish him the very best of luck for the future, and a thank you for what he's done for the club, and I also believe that possibly apart from O'Shea, he's as good as any other centre back here, certainly with the ball at his feet. Plus I'm slightly jealous as I know 2/3 people out in Florida!

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bobble added 22:38 - Jan 22 Must be somewhere better than miami a mouldy stinking hot humid hellhole...
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Vancouver_Blue added 02:22 - Jan 23 A lot of travel involved in the MLS, Miami isn't all sunshine and palm trees , it's guns, homeless everywhere, open drug use and brutal traffic.
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ArnieM added 07:54 - Jan 23 just noticed the big names they have playing for them, but these are mainly players at the end of their careers. Does he really want to go to a nothing league at 26yr playing in USA? Where are all the English clubs lining up for him considering he's out of contract in a few months ?
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tractorboybig added 09:21 - Jan 23 best defender we have better than the average we have brought other than delap
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ArnieM added 09:22 - Jan 23 LOL
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MK1 added 17:43 - Jan 23 Maybe in 10 years or so. Players go there to retire.
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