TWTD understands Town are yet to open talks with veteran former England international Ashley Young, but there is interest.

Earlier, TalkSPORT reported that Young was “likely” to join the Blues after a return to his first club Watford broke down, however, that overstates the situation as it stands.

We understand Young is a player interesting Town this summer and is on the list of potential recruits - as a player rather than as a player-coach as previously rumoured - but with no discussions having taken place up to now.

Young, who turned 40 earlier this month and would be Town’s oldest ever signing, is a free agent having been released by Everton at the end of the season after two years at Goodison Park.

Young senior made his breakthrough with the Hornets in 2003 having been at the club since he was 10.

Capped by England 39 times, scoring seven goals, Stevenage-born Young moved on to Aston Villa in 2007 and then Manchester United four years later and was at the club after Kieran McKenna had been promoted to the first-team staff.

A spell at Inter Milan, then a return to Aston Villa followed prior to joining Everton in July 2023.

Speaking when McKenna was in discussions with Brighton, Chelsea and Manchester United last summer, Young was full of praise for the Northern Irishman.

“I think he’s got everything to be a top, top manager,” he told TalkSPORT. “I worked with him at Manchester United and saw how much passion he’s got for football, the love he's got for football and just how he wants to be successful.

“He's seen as one of those managers. At Ipswich they want to play football, they want to be expansive, they want to get on the front foot.

“Obviously, he's younger than me, he's just one of those coaches that wants to be successful. He's got everything there to be a successful manager, no disrespect to Ipswich, at a bigger club.”

Meanwhile, we understand Young’s son Tyler has been among the trialists featuring for the U21s in pre-season. The 19-year-old was released by Peterborough at the end of last season.

Photo: MI News via Reuters Connect

ArnieM added 00:06 - Jul 22 Blues1: I dont doubt he has the capability to play in some games. But at 40yrs if age, if / when he picks up an injury, I suspect he won't heal particularly quickly now! You cant fight age in the end, and I dare say his leg cadence isn't what it used to be, so he won't be bombing up and down that wing from a full back position. All the potential downsides to signing a 40yr old. Then there's the small problem of his extortionate salary!! We paid through the nose for Phillips last season and look what we got for our money. Watford have dropped out of trying to re sign him due to his wage demands. IF he signs, itll come at a huge financial outlay, that may be an inspirational signing or a complete f cuk up of a Phillips x10 proportion. I'm really not sure about this one. How about using the money to bring in two decent strikers., now those we do need!

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chripswich added 05:00 - Jul 22 A year too late for me. Not that he was available. Young might well have provided that experience to stop the sloppy late goals that so damaged us in the early/mid part of the season. Would have been an on field/game time mentor for certain players (like Davis and his impetuous decision making) He would have been the kind of quality and presence we needed on the field and perhaps been a sounding board for McKenna who for all his experience at other clubs was still learning the prem as he went along. Genuinely believe we could have stayed up with someone like him on board. We were close until the last few weeks. But hindsight is a great thing. The championship is a different proposition however. McKenna knows the league, and should know what he needs. Young doesn’t. But if we go up, if still fit, maybe Young being around would help in the dressing room. So maybe worth a punt now - if he doesn’t cost a fortune?

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tetchris added 08:12 - Jul 22 Scraping the barrel with this signing
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Runner added 08:37 - Jul 22 So who's right; Bazza or Darkhouse? I have always liked the comments Bazza posts. Darkhouse is full of s*** most of the time. That is my opinion, you can make up your own mind.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:40 - Jul 22 Might just be a useful addition for a year to add a bit of weight to the team. I hope he can resolve his problems with gravity (as someone amusingly put it) as I wouldn't like to see him falling over too often. I notice that some of the women in the 2025 Euros are also beginning to develop similar gravity issues. That's a pity as staying on their feet in most situations was one of the more attractive aspects of the female game.

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bringmeaKuqi added 09:26 - Jul 22 It just seems like such a short-term decision! In the past few seasons we have shown that we have committed to youth and resale value. Why not go out and get a good young player on lower wages as a back up to Clarke? If needs must, O'Shea can always play right back anyway. I get that bringing in experience is important, but there's experience and then there is bringing in someone for one year who we'd need to replace if we went up anyway... I doubt the rumours are true

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Linkboy13 added 09:40 - Jul 22 36 appearances for Everton last season how many players in our squad would have achieved that exactly possibly one or two at most so dropping down to the championship would be easy for him. Age is not a problem he's obviously very dedicated so as long it's just a short term contract with a view of an extension if it goes well it's a no brainer for me.
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DavoIPB added 10:53 - Jul 22 Was going to say the same linkboy, look at his appearances over the past two seasons, better than most of our players and he played in a mistake prem team.
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Bergholtblue added 10:54 - Jul 22 A very good player in his day, but that was a long time ago. Would bring experience but he is hardly the future though is he?
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blues1 added 12:16 - Jul 22 Cooper4england. He played 36 games for everton last season. And has had very few injuries in his career
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blues1 added 12:22 - Jul 22 Chepstowblue. That shows just how,clueless you are. Young, even now is quick. And what has philogene got to do with anything? Hes not a right back.
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blues1 added 12:28 - Jul 22 Darkhorse28. The same pathetic diatribe. You really must be the most ignorant poster on here. Let me put you straight. The club is NOT for sale. The fact they want more investment in order to increase the value of the club, wanting to get it to £1bn by 2030, means it would make no sense for them to sell now when its only valued £375m. Ur clearly no businessman if ud sell at the lower price, when in 5 years you may be able to sell at almost 3 times that. Just take ur bs and go support some1 else.

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BurleyJefferson added 17:23 - Jul 22 Downes and Dibling are both not going on Southampton's pre season tour as they appear to be injured. I wonder if both might be heading for the exit in which case the latter would be an excellent addition to ITFC.
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armchaircritic59 added 19:17 - Jul 22 Yes BurleyJefferson, I think " injured " would be the best way to put it. As far as FD is concerned, I'm not convinced, and would make two new midfielders who put their defensive duties first, before attacking ones, though I fully realise there's certainly more to AM than being a " stopper ". As for Dibling, well given the outlandish fee quotes Southampton were bandying about late last season, only the very top echelon of Premier League clubs and their equivalents elsewhere, could even just think about it, never mind actually do it. Not the proven article and they need to be far more realistic. I saw him play I think it was 3 times last season. Overall, not particularly impressed, doesn't mean he won't have a big future in the game of course.

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