BLUES' boss Jim Magilton could today launch a cheeky bid to hijack Leon Best's move to Nottingham Forest.

Derek Davis

BLUES boss Jim Magilton could today launch a cheeky bid to hijack Leon Best's move to Nottingham Forest.

The Coventry City striker handed in a transfer request on Friday and was left out of the Sky Blues' 2-1 home defeat by Burnley by manager Iain Dowie who said the player's head was not right after Forest made two bids for Best.

Magilton is known to be a fan of the 21-year-old and is prepared to offer him a chance to fight for promotion to the Premiership rather than a play-off battle in League One if he moved to the City Ground.

But Best is understood to be keen to join his home town club and be close to his mum, whose picture he has tattooed on his chest.

Town would have to spend around £1.5m on the former Southampton trainee after Dowie described Forest's second bid of £1m as 'derisory'.

If Republic of Ireland Under 21 international Best were to be secured it could pave the way for Town to sell Alan Lee, if he wanted to move. However, Ipswich were last night adamant that no formal bid have been received for the striker, despite erroneous reports to the contrary in some national papers.

Magilton reiterated: “We have not accepted a bid for Alan Lee from Burnley.”

The Clarets are understood to be willing to pay around £900,000 for Lee after selling Andy Gray to Charlton for £1.5m and are expected to lodge a formal offer within the next 24 hours.

Quinn is today expected to complete his move from Sheffield United for a fee of around £400,000.

Blues chairman David Sheepshanks last night confirmed: “We have agreed a fee with Sheffield United for Alan Quinn and we are now discussing personal terms.”

Magilton explained that new signing Alan Quinn was not used against Blackpool as the paperwork for his loan was not completed until late Friday night. However, he is planning to play him in this afternoon's reserve team match against MK Dons, with a 2pm kick off at the training centre.

Magilton confirmed that Quinn's arrival has not ended his interest in David Norris from Plymouth.

He said: “David Norris is still very much in my thoughts. We have made our offer which we feel is very good.”

A couple of other Town players could be on the move this week with Cork City understood to be ready to make a formal approach to Ipswich for George O'Callaghan, while Sammy Moore is expected to go back out on loan, and Michael Synnott could move to York City after a trial period.