BLUES boss Jim Magilton has confirmed Ipswich have made another bid for a new player on top of the offer they have made for Plymouth Argyle midfielder David Norris.

By Derek Davis

BLUES boss Jim Magilton has confirmed Ipswich have made another bid for a new player on top of the offer they have made for Plymouth Argyle midfielder David Norris.

The bid for a second player is understood to be for a defender and Town are still waiting for an answer.

Magilton said: “David Norris is a player that I have admired for a while and I can confirm we made a seven-figure bid for the player.

“That bid was rejected. That might be the end of the matter but we are now exploring other possibilities and have made an offer for another player.”

It was revealed that the offer Ipswich put in at the beginning of the week was for Norris but Argyle subsequently rejected the original £1m bid.

Town admitted they would be making a fresh offer but Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock insists it is not enough and they are ready to offer the midfielder a new deal next week.

Sturrock said: “Our top players are not going anyway unless it is for an incredible amount of money and we are not close to an incredible bid at this juncture.”

To liven things up a bit Town's bitter rivals Norwich City are also after Norris, along with Leicester, while Plymouth hold firm for £2m, half of which will go to Bolton.

Magilton is refusing to name the second player Town have made a move for but it is understood it is NOT Sunderland striker David Connolly, although it is understood the Blues have inquired about his availability.

Sunderland have told Connolly he can leave the Stadium of Light after Ipswich Town rekindled their interest in the striker.

But Blues boss Jim Magilton will face competition from at least one other Championship club in securing the 30-year-old, with Crystal Palace also keen to take the out-of favour player.

The Blues also face a fight to secure the services of Polish keeper Grzegorz Szamotulski if they follow up their interest and offer the 31-year-old a deal after watching him play against Hearts earlier this week.

Cardiff and Plymouth are also understood to be chasing the 6ft 2ins Dundee United keeper, who has a clause in the remaining one month of his contract saying he can leave with a week's notice.

Magilton has many irons in the transfer fire and Connolly was a player Town were interested in last summer.

They have asked for an update on his availability with the possibility of a loan until the end of the season being followed by a permanent transfer.

The Black Cats have told Connolly he can go and with 18 months left on his contract he would be available for a nominal fee.

Magilton confirmed last week that he had made one offer and at least one firm inquiry about another player from his list of targets.

A Sunderland source last night said: “Ipswich are among a few clubs who have asked about David, who has been told he is not in Roy Keane's thinking.”

Connolly has enjoyed success over the years with goals against Ipswich while with Wimbledon, West Ham, Leicester and Sunderland.

A proven Championship striker, Connolly has also got Premiership experience, helping Wigan stay in the Premier League in 2006 before switching to Sunderland and helping them to win the Championship title last season.

But he has barely figured in the top flight this campaign with his last game coming in September, in the 2-1 defeat by Blackburn.

With 41 Republic of Ireland caps under his belt, Connolly knows a couple of the Ipswich players already and was a team-mate of Tommy Miller's at Sunderland last year.

Although Town could sign a player to be eligible for tomorrow's FA Cup tie against Portsmouth, as long as it was done by 5pm today, it is unlikely Magilton will strengthen his squad this weekend.

Reports in Scotland claim Town have also watched Polish keeper Grzegorz Szamolski.

Meanwhile, Town have switched the reserve games against Peterborough United and MK Dons from Portman Road to the Playford Road training pitches.

Town play Peterborough next Monday, January 7 and MK Dons on Monday, January 21 although the FA Youth Cup against Watford will be played at Portman Road.