Boss Joe Royle has confirmed that Swindon striker Sam Parkin is his number one target to replace Shefki Kuqi. The Town manager is keen to pair Parkin with 31-year-old former Reading frontman Nicky Forster next season.

Royle says that chairman David Sheepshanks is talking to Swindon about a deal thought to be in the region of £500,000: "I won't deny we are interested in Sam - he was top of our list if Shefki went.

"But our interest is still very much at an early stage and beyond that I don't want to say too much.

"The chairman is talking to Swindon and it is an on-going situation, but by the end of the week I hope to have a much clearer idea of our strike force for next season."

Free agent Nicky Forster, who has turned down a new one-year deal with Reading, is likely to be Town's first summer signing, possibly before the end of the week. The Blues are understood to have offered the ex-Gillingham, Brentford and Birmingham man a two-year contract.

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