Now there's an interesting one. An East Anglian club admitting to be on the trail of a strapping Scottish centre-half.
Or rather a strapping English centre-half playing in Scotland.
But, no, it's not Granty. This time it is Town boss Magilton taking the High Road north in a bid to plug the gaping hole in his own back line – the player in question being Hibs skipper and centre-half Rob Jones.
“We had heard a lot about him and I went to see what all the fuss was about,” Magilton told the papers south of the border today. That's as in the border at Diss after Magilton was spotted in the crowd at Easter Road on Sunday watching Hibs beat SPL champions Celtic 3-2.
“We will certainly be looking at him again,? added Magilton. “Hibernian are not short of money and have no reason to sell, so it remains to be seen whether they will be interested in selling.”
No, was John Collins' answer in August as Leeds came a-sniffing after the 6ft 7in 27-year-old a reported ?400,000 up little Den's sleeve. He had, after all, made a mint selling Scott Brown to the Glasgow giants.
“Rob has done a terrific job for us and when players are doing well other clubs can take notice, that's what happens in football,? Collins told The Scotsman in August. The Edinburgh side were unbeaten this season going into tonight's CIS Insurance Cup clash with Motherwell – which they promptly lost 4-2.
Nevertheless, Jones is clearly a wanted man. And, according to his agent, he wants to head back south again after Hibs failed to deliver a new and improved deal.
“Rob is contracted to Hibs for another three seasons but he has personal issues and they will need to be addressed at some point,? his Mr Ten Per Cent told The Scotsman earlier this summer.
“I know Rob has spoken with the chairman and expressed a desire to go back to England to play his football,? he added. ?But John Collins has made it clear that he is his captain and he does not want him to leave.
“That is nice to hear but if that were the case then you would expect the club to reflect that in their valuation of the player but that hasn't been forthcoming.?
Which, presumeably, is why Magilton is on the plane to Edinburgh this weekend if his agent is putting the word out that the boy is unhappy. The Town chief might also have got the nod from his old pal Tony Mowbray that the lad might be worth a punt – it was Mowbray who took Jones to Hibs from Grimsby Town in the first place.
Don't know. One to watch, I'd suspect. Because it would be hard not to believe that where Magilton goes, so Granty may well have been before.
Easter Road is his patch; his manor. And 27 is a good age; 6ft 7in is a very good height. And if no new deal has been forthcoming in the last five weeks, presumeably the lad himself still wants out.
Mmm…
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