BLUES boss Jim Magilton will turn to Saints stopper Kelvin Davis if the deal to land Richard Wright doesn't come off.

Derek Davis

BLUES boss Jim Magilton will turn to Saints stopper Kelvin Davis if the deal to land Richard Wright doesn't come off.

Southampton are ready to off-load the former Town favourite who played in the Premiership with Wimbledon before joining Ipswich and then Sunderland. He is someone Magilton rates highly.

Magilton last night admitted: “Kelvin is on our list of keepers.

“He is another who enjoyed the most successful spell of his career whilst at our football club.

“Kelvin has had a few years where things have not gone as well as he would have hoped but I know him and I know that through games and confidence in an environment he knows and in a place where he feels secure I'm sure his goalkeeping ability would flourish.

“He is on our list of possibles to bring back to this football club.”

Although the Blues have not made a bid for the stopper Magilton is hopeful a deal would suit all parties and go through quickly.

He said: “Southampton are going through a transition and are in a situation where they may have to sell one or two of their players and if Kelvin falls into that category and the Richard Wright situation didn't go our way then certainly he would be one of those we would maybe have a chance of snatching.”

Town have given West Ham a deadline of the end of this week to decide if they will let Wright make the move back to Portman Road but their manager Alan Curbishley is proving elusive as he looks to bring in a new keeper, or two, himself.

Magilton said: “Alan Curbishley and I are playing phone tag at the moment. He is very busy with his pre-season as we are.

“We need to have a conversation for it to move on. It suits us and Richard Wright but at the moment it is not ticking all West Ham's boxes and we have to give them due time until they can get in a replacement if they are prepared to let him go.

“We will continue to push and see how far we can go with it.

“With Shane Supple having a touch of the lurgy it puts us in a real dilemma and we need to get something sorted pretty sharpish.”

The Blues are also looking to complete the move of Colchester United striker Kevin Lisbie in the next 72 hours.

The U's have offered Lisbie a new contract in order to make him stay at Layer Road but Lisbie has already said he has played his last game for them and a move to Portman Road is looking likely.

Magilton said: “We are hopeful things can be sorted before the weekend. Kevin has had a series of medical test and now it is just down to our due diligence and us making sure everything is done properly.

“If it comes down to the player having to make a decision then we will let him do that.

Magilton is also considering offering left-back Ben Thatcher a contract after he impressed in Town's 7-0 win over Cliftonville on Monday and in training in Northern Ireland this week

“Ben has been outstanding in regards to his application and attitude to training. He jumped at the opportunity to come, which speaks volumes about the player.

“He seems to be enjoying it and we will sit down at the end of the week and see what options he has and evaluate things after that.

“We would be hopeful of securing someone like him with his experience and quality.”

Moves for Rudi Skácel and Angelos Charisteas are still in the offing as both players ponder Town's approaches.

Magilton said: “We are still in discussions with Rudi and Southampton and if we can get something sorted before the weekend then we will be delighted.

“If not we will press on and hopefully we can get in a couple of new additions next week.”