Ipswich Town are interested in signing Tom Bradshaw and Ellis Harrison as potential replacements for Martyn Waghorn, according to national reports.
There continues to be interest in the Blues’ leading scorer from last season, with Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Derby and Nottingham Forest all said to be keen on Waghorn.
It is understood the Blues quickly rejected an offer from Sheffield United earlier this summer for Waghorn, believed to be in the region of £5million, with reports in Sheffield suggesting the Blades retain their interest despite manager Chris Wilder insisting an apparent £8m-£10m valuation is beyond his club.
While Blues owner Marcus Evans remains keen to keep hold of the striker, the Mirror are reporting that the Blues are already looking at potential replacements. Regardless of where Waghorn’s future lies, the Blues were always likely to be in the market for a new striker this summer, following the departure of David McGoldrick at the end of last season.
MORE: ‘He has a price tag of £8m-£10m and that rules us out’ - Blades boss Wilder on chase for Waghorn
Bradshaw scored 12 goals as Barnsley were relegated from the Championship last season, with the 25-year-old Welsh international said to be a target for a number of clubs this summer.
Harrison, 24, scored 14 goals for Bristol Rovers in League One last season, with his record standing at 49 goals in 206 games at the Memorial Stadium.
Addressing the Blades’ interest in Waghorn, Wilder said: “Well, listen, he’s another one who has a price tag of £8m-£10m and that rules us out straightaway.
“That rules us out, any of those numbers.
MORE: ‘I’d love to say 100% that he will be here but I can’t’ - Hurst on ‘firm’ Waghorn interest
“I’ve got to make sure I make the right decisions and that we don’t over pay for players and in two to three years time we’re suffering and breaking teams up because we have to.
“We’re ambitious, yeah, and we’ve spent money but what is a player worth? We have to look at the market and basically look at our instincts and knowledge of players and what we feel they are worth.
“I’ve got to say, £8m-£10m for Martyn is a huge number, as is the numbers banded about for the players you’ve already mentioned (Scott Hogan, Aston Villa).”
MORE: Edwards has reached the Championship the hard way... and now he wants to take his chance
Speaking yesterday morning, Ipswich boss Paul Hurst insisted he wants to keep hold of the 28-year-old striker but admitted he could not guarantee he will still be at the club on the opening day of the season.
“I’m not here to try and fool anyone, I never do, because there is interest there – firm interest,” he said
“I’ve said to Martyn I would like him to stay at the football club and we’ll see how that unfolds.
“I’d love to be able to say to you and the listeners 100% that Martyn Waghorn will be in the team against Blackburn but I can’t honestly say that.
“But at the minute I don’t think we are close to meeting the valuation for the player and, really, I’d like him here.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here