IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton faces opposition in his bid to bring target David Norris to Portman Road in the January transfer window.The Blues boss has confirmed his is keen on the 26-year-old Plymouth player, and made an enquiry about him during the close season.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton faces opposition in his bid to bring target David Norris to Portman Road in the January transfer window.

The Blues boss has confirmed his is keen on the 26-year-old Plymouth player, and made an enquiry about him during the close season.

But now Leicester City are showing a big interest in Norris, and this week had a bid turned down by the west country club.

Magilton got no further than a preliminary discussion with then Argyle manager Ian Holloway during the summer, and Holloway has since moved to Leicester - where he is keen to have Norris follow him.

Magilton will have money to spend after the takeover of the club by entrepreneur Marcus Evans is ratified at a shareholders emergency general meeting at the Ipswich Corn Exchange on Monday.

And Norris is a player he has set his sights on - to add some forward bite from midfield.

Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric is backing Holloway in his bid to strengthen the squad at the Walkers Stadium, and as well as Norris a bid was also placed for another Plymouth player - striker Barry Hayles.

Magilton is set to put in a sizeable bid - believed to be over £1million - for Norris once the takeover is complete hoping that a move can be made during the January transfer window.

Meanwhile, Magilton watched two foreign triallists in action in a behind-closed-doors 1-0 victory over Watford yesterday.

Pole Damian Gorawski played in midfield while 21-year-old Finland B international Jonas Portin played at the back.

A defender, Portin plays for FF Jaro where he has been a regular over the last two seasons. Like Gorawski he is currently spending time at the Ipswich training ground after being spotted by Town chief scout Steve McCall.

Gorawski is back with the Blues after impressing in his initial week at Playford Road a month ago.

The 28-year-old is primarily a right winger and is available on a free transfer with his FC Moscow contract having come to an end.

He has been capped 14 times by Poland but was forced out of the Polish squad for the 2006 World Cup finals due to what was reported to be severe asthma, although he has subsequently been given the all-clear by specialists.

Seventeen-year-old striker Jordan Rhodes scored the only goal in yesterday's win over Watford at the Ipswich training ground.

Town defender Alex Bruce trained today and is in line for a recall to the squad for Saturday's match against Scunthorpe at Portman Road after suffering a groin injury last week.