WEST Bromwich Albion are poised to come in with an increased bid for Thomas Gaardsoe.Last week, The Evening Star revealed that Hawthorns chief Gary Megson had made an opening offer for Ipswich Town's goalscoring Danish central defender.

By Dave Allard

WEST Bromwich Albion are poised to come in with an increased bid for Thomas Gaardsoe.

Last week, The Evening Star revealed that Hawthorns chief Gary Megson had made an opening offer for Ipswich Town's goalscoring Danish central defender.

Blues chief Joe Royle insisted that bid – believed to have been around the £400,000 mark – was "brushed aside".

However, talks are continuing between the two clubs and a far more realistic offer for the 23-year-old may well be tabled soon.

Talks are believed to be taking place between Town chairman David Sheepshanks and his Albion counterpart Jeremy Peace.

A Hawthorns insider said today: "Albion have a reputation for going in with stupid offers initially, but once that initial unrealistic bid has been rejected they usually stick with it. I firmly believe that talks are on-going and I think that a deal may well be reached."

Gaardsoe became a central defensive regular in the Town side after Joe Royle took over as manager in late October. He scored seven goals.

He was signed by former Portman Road chief George Burley from Aalborg two years ago in a £1.1million deal.