BLACKPOOL are preparing to up their offer for Ipswich Town striker Jason Scotland, the EADT and Evening Star understands.

We understand that Tangerines boss Ian Holloway is a big admirer of the Trinidad and Tobago international and has instructed his board to do everything they can to sign him before the transfer window closes at 11pm tonight.

And despite producing an impressive cameo appearance in the 2-1 win over Leeds on Saturday – scoring one and making another – Town manager Paul Jewell is believed to be prepared to sell the striker at the right price.

Having already signed Michael Chopra, Nathan Ellington and Daryl Murphy this summer, the Blues boss admitted last week that he ‘probably has too many strikers’.

We understand that Championship rivals Blackpool are the only club that have made a firm offer for the striker, although their initial offer of just under �350,000 fell way short of Ipswich’s valuation and was immediately rejected yesterday.

Premier League new boys Swansea, the club where Scotland enjoyed the best spell of his career, are also believed to be monitoring the situation, while Championship duo Coventry and Birmingham have also made enquiries.

Championship new boys Brighton and League One side Sheffield Wednesday were also linked earlier in the summer.

Scotland is currently in the Caribbean representing the 2006 Trinidand & Tobago World Cup squad at an official event.

Ipswich paid Wigan a fee of around �750,000 for the 31-year-old last summer and he was a regular in his first season at Portman Road, playing mainly as a lone striker and scoring 10 goals.

Praised by Jewell for returning to pre-season training in top condition, Scotland impressed on the tour of Holland but has found his opportunities limited since the start of the new season.