IPSWICH Town have been linked with lower league players Danny Green and Aaron Cresswell in recent weeks. Colchester United reporter STUART WATSON – who watched every team in League One twice last season – picks out the players from that division he feels could step up.

Defenders

JASON PEARCE (Bournemouth)

The no-nonsense defender has been a major part of Bournemouth’s transformation from cash-strapped League Two outfit to League One promotion contenders. He was made captain of the Cherries in 2007, has made nearly 150 appearances for the club and he’s still only 23 years old.

Already been heavily linked with a �500,000 move to newly-promoted Peterborough who are desperate to shore up a leaky defence. Cherries chairman Eddie Mitchell has admitted he might be prepared to cash in on the club’s Player of the Year, but will only do so if Portsmouth – the club where Pearce started out as a youngster but failed to feature – lower their 50% sell-on clause. Pompey are so far unwilling to negotiate.

KARLEIGH OSBORNE (Brentford)

Now could be the time for this 6ft 2in versatile defender to move up a level.

Having made his debut for the Bees at the tender age of 17, Osborne – who can play at centre-back or right-back – has now made close to 150 appearances for the west London club and worn the captain’s armband on a number of occasions.

Won the club’s Player of the Year award by a landslide this season as the team – caretaker managed by former Town player Nicky Forster at the back end of the campaign – finished 11th and reached the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

AARON CRESSWELL (Tranmere)

The 21-year-old Liverpudlian left-back has attracted interest from a host of Championship clubs – one reportedly Ipswich – having helped Tranmere beat the odds a stay up this season.

Having made 80 appearances over three seasons for the Merseysiders, the set-piece specialist is now out-of-contract. And, although he’s been offered a new contract by the club, manager Les Parry appears resigned to losing him.

He said: “Aaron has got four or five Championship clubs trying to sign him, if I had to guess I would say he might be leaving us this summer.”

Midfielders

DANNY GREEN (Dagenham & Redbridge, pictured)

Ipswich have already been linked for this technicaly gifted winger, with Peterborough chairman Barry Fry claiming that his newly-promoted club faced competition from the Blues and Crystal Palace for his signature.

The 20-year-old wideman was let go by Charlton and Nottingham Forest as a youngster and, after a spell at non-league side Bishop’s Stortford, earnt a move to Dagenham & Redbridge.

Scored 14 goals and made 14 assists from midfield – including one in the play-off final at Wembley – to help the Daggers promoted to League One in his first season. The set-piece specialist then followed it up with 13 more goals and 12 assists this season, shining in a side which were relegated.

JOSE SEMEDO (Charlton)

A product of Portuguese giants Sporting’s prolific youth system, the defensive midfielder blossomed at the age of 26 this season.

Addicks boss Chris Powell wants to keep his Player of the Year, but could be forced to cash in if the former Portugal Under-21 international decides he wants to move on.

He has just a year left on his contract, with League One rivals Sheffield Wednesday having already made public their interest in the player. Would probably cost somewhere between �500,000 and a �1m.

CHRIS TAYLOR (Oldham)

Following six seasons at his hometown club, the 24-year-old – a self-proclaimed Oldham fan – may now be thinking of testing himself at a higher level.

The 6ft midfielder/forward has been linked with Championship moves to Blackpool, Doncaster and Leeds in recent years. Scunthorpe had a �250,000 bid for his services rejected in January and he went on to finish the season with 11 goals.

JAMES DUNNE (Exeter)

A member of the Arsenal Under-18 side that made the FA Youth Cup semi-finals in 2007, the versatile midfielder joined Exeter in 2009 after being released by the Gooners and seeing a loan spell at Nottingham Forest not work out.

Primarily a defensive midfielder but also able to play wide right, the 21-year-old has been a key part of Paul Tisdale’s critically-acclaimed revolution at the Grecians over the last two seasons.

Strikers

DANNY INGS (Bournemouth)

The 19-year-old forward has burst onto the scene at Bournemouth this season with eight goals from 25 appearances. Such was his impact that he has already been linked with Premier League club Fulham.

Cherries chairman Eddie Mitchell is keen to keep hold of his young star though, stating recently: “In the current climate, he would be worth more than �1m. If he were to score 20 goals for us next season, and there is every chance he will, he would be a �2m player.”

DALE JENNINGS (Tranmere)

League One’s wonderkid may well be skipping out the Championship altogether with reports that German giants Bayern Munich are ready to give him a trial this summer while an unnamed Premier League club had a bid rejected last January.

The 18-year-old Liverpudlian – able to play on the wing or up front – has pace to burn, tricky feet and both makes and scores goals. Check out his breathtaking solo run and finish from the halfway line against Plymouth on YouTube to see what the fuss is all about.

DANIEL POWELL (MK Dons)

Having missed out in the play-offs, Milton Keynes Dons have numerous players that Championship clubs will be looking at including Daniel Woodards, Mathias Doumbe, Angelo Balanta and Sam Baldock.

It’s 20-year-old winger/striker Daniel Powell who is my pick of the bunch though having scored 10 goals in the second half of the season to claim the club’s Young Playter of the Year award.

His signature would come at a price though seeing as he’s just signed a new two-year deal at the club.

THE RULES

– There are plenty of experienced pros in League One that have dropped down from the top two tiers who could arguably still do a job in the Championship – the likes of Kevin Kilbane (Huddersfield) and Luke Chadwick (MK Dons) instantly spring to mind, while Ian Harte proved it can be done with his move from Carlisle to Reading last season – but I have purposely picked players who have never played above the third tier.

– Unsurprisingly most of the top 10 would have come from the three clubs that were promoted this season, but I have left these players out as it is now unlikely that Brighton, Southampton and Peterborough will now be parting with them. And if they do – Posh’s Craig Mackail-Smith for example – it will probably be to bigger fish than Town.