Town and Swansea are reported to have loan approaches for defender Stephen Mfuni turned down by Manchester City.

Mfuni, 17, plays as a centre-half or a left-back and has been capped by England at U16 and U17 levels.

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Blues and Swans have had loan proposals turned down by City, who are said to want to keep him for both the short and long term.

Wigan-born Mfuni is yet to make a senior competitive appearance but featured in pre-season ahead of 2024/25.

Central defence looks the area of the squad where the Blues are most likely to add before Monday’s 7pm deadline with Luke Woolfenden potentially moving on. Watford, Coventry and Stoke are among the clubs keen on the 26-year-old.

Elsewhere, Town are claimed to have shown interest in Sheffield Wednesday forward Bailey Cadamarteri, son of former Bradford, Everton and Leeds frontman Danny.

According to the Sheffield Star, Sheffield United and Blackburn have made bids for the 20-year-old, while Town and Preston are also claimed to have made contact.

The Blues would appear well covered for attacking players since the signings of Sindre Walle Egeli and Ivan Azon following the additions of Chuba Akpom and Kasey McAteer.

Photo: IMAGO/Sportimage via Reuters Connect

Cookieboy added 11:47 - Aug 31 On what I have seen from the later part of last season and the beginning of this. The Town needs a quality left back that can defend. Oh how much we will miss Townsend
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jas0999 added 12:07 - Aug 31 We don’t need any more loans. Four is more than enough.
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cartman1972 added 12:30 - Aug 31 We do not need a 17 yr old loanee.....he's hardly likely to ever play
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Gforce added 13:29 - Aug 31 May as well keep Baggott ,rather than a 17 year old kid. At least Baggott has a fair amount of 1st team experience, albeit at league 1 level.
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Mark added 13:30 - Aug 31 I don't like the idea of the Mfuni loan. Surely Johnson or Young could cover left-back if Davis gets injured or suspended. Cadamarteri, well, Sheffield Wednesday's situation could lead to a few bargains for other clubs. I wouldn't be adverse to signing a 20 year old striker if he cost around £1m. Whoever we sign though, we need to get them to play together, develop understandings and deliver wins.

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darkhorse28 added 13:41 - Aug 31 Cookieboy, totally agree, Townsend defending against Forest away was superb, a level above Leif, in that skill at least. But how can you say we miss him when Leif is fit? He’d be warming the bench like he did the time he was available.., McKenna doesn’t prioritise defending ability, he wants Leifs left wand, irrespective of form. So we really don’t miss what McKenna wouldn’t ever pick. He wouldn’t even rotate.., worked in 23/24 but this season Leif like many others has gone massively backwards under the supreme coach.

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timetraveler added 13:45 - Aug 31 Let’s not forget a 17-20 year old doesn’t count towards our squad limit so if they are backup then a vital squad place isn’t used. We could have the scenario of O’Shea greaves kipre and Baggott as centre backs with furlong covering in an emergency and a loanee under 21 centre back as additional cover
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Jonathan_Charles added 13:47 - Aug 31 Not sure how reliable or current any interest in Mfuni, although he wouldn't count to our squad size and McKenna STILL has a reputation for player development...even if he is starting to lose his reputation for producing winning teams... the appointment of a STRIKER and not a winger or number 10 should still be a priority... Hirst isnt up to the job!!!
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blueoutlook added 14:14 - Aug 31 We don’t need a kid who is going to sit on the bench at best. He simply isn’t going to get game time. Another striker however would be a good idea. If we could poach him for a million or even one and a half million,could be good business.
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ernie added 14:38 - Aug 31 We have enough players now, just teach them to play together ffs
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December1963 added 15:09 - Aug 31 Just an observation from the two home games played so far. Davis is an attacking wing back in the way that a modern wing back plays, when we were last in the championship when he went forward massimo would come across and fill that space behind him that’s not happening with the new midfield also with Jayden playing wide left he takes up that area (usually with a defender with him) that Davis likes to run into so both of these issues are really detrimental to how we are used to seeing him play.

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Lennie added 15:16 - Aug 31 Only area we seem short is no10 … could do with a more physical Chaplin … is that Akpom or Sindre … not sure Smodiks has the vision … otherwise agree with those who say we now need to build culture of togetherness and mutual support on and off the pitch…COYB
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Mark added 15:26 - Aug 31 > Let’s not forget a 17-20 year old doesn’t count towards our squad limit so if they are backup then a vital squad place isn’t used. I belive they do count if on loan.
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chepstowblue added 16:01 - Aug 31 I no longer trust the process. At the moment it's a bl**dy mess.
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trevski_s added 16:51 - Aug 31 This is one loan I don't think we need, I would rather keep Baggott instead of loaning him out again considering he's just signed a new contract too. I don't see the point in loaning in a really young player if he's just going to be a bench warmer (probably not even that as Baggott doesn't even make the bench), it's really not going to help his development. And in relation to an earlier post yes loaned players under 21 do count to the squad limit so it would be a pointless swap and we may as well use our own youth players. Even if Woolfy goes and without Townsend for the season, I believe we have more than enough cover at the back considering you have RB - Johnson, Furlong, Clarke, Young (O Shea and Kipre can also play here if needed) CB - O Shea, Greaves, Baggott, Kipre (and I think McKenna said Furlong can play here too) LB - Davis, Young, Johnson, Furlong (Greaves and Kipre can also play here if needed) And thats not including the likes of Boniface from the U21 who can play LB

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PortmanTerrorist added 17:28 - Aug 31 Suspect the appeal is cos he does not count to squad numbers but could be good enough to contribute. Can't see how he improves us in any way tho. We don't give our own youngsters a chance so why do this ? Ashton promised we would not train youngsters for other Clubs any more, but Azon looks to break with that already.
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