IPSWICH Town face a battle with fellow Championship sides, including rivals Norwich City, as they step up their interest in Blackpool's towering defender Kaspars Gorkss.

Mike Bacon

By Mike Bacon

IPSWICH Town face a battle with fellow Championship sides, including rivals Norwich City, as they step up their interest in Blackpool's towering defender Kaspars Gorkss.

Latvian Gorkss is one of the Championships' most wanted defenders and the Lancashire club are looking to cash in on the giant centre half who so impressed last season.

As Jim Magilton's search for a replacement for Jason De Vos grows daily, Gorkss' time at Bloomfield Road appears numbered after Tangerines boss Simon Grayson snapped up Stoke City defender Marlon Broomes, this week, their first signing of the close season.

Broomes, a full-back or centre-half, will link up with the Seasiders on July 1 following his release by Premier League bound Stoke City and his signature is very likely to now see the end of Gorkss' career at Blackpool.

However Ipswich are not alone in their interest in the defender, who scored six times as Blackpool managed to avoid relegation last season.

Big-spending QPR are understood to be one of those looking to land the 26-year-old, but Watford, Norwich and Preston are also very keen.

Blackpool have insisted they want to keep Gorkss, but they can do little to prevent him leaving as the impressive Latvian has a buy-out clause in his contract of just £250,000. And it is a case of 'when' and not 'if' he goes.

That figure is a knock-down price and is why the likes of Ipswich and Norwich City are so interested.

Blackpool manager Grayson wants to keep Gorkss, but knows with a buy-out clause so low, he has little chance of doing so.

"We have to make sure we are prepared for one or two players going," Grayson said.

"You have to be aware that players mentioned, like Gorkss, and others who have attracted interest, could well leave the club.”

With Magilton back from holiday next week, things are likely to start moving at Portman Road, as the search for new signings commences.

BLOB (N) WHAT do you think of Ipswich's interest in Kaspars Gorkss? Did you travel to Blackpool when Town played there and see him play? If not Gorkss, who should Town be looking at? Let us know, starsport@eveningstar.co.uk

BLOB (N) DON'T miss out to Canary rivals Jim! EdBlog www.eveningstar.co.uk (blogs and opinions).