Reputable Ipswich Town fan site TWTD.co.uk is tonight reporting that Blackpool have had a £350,000 offer turned down for Tractor Boys striker Jason Scotland.
'Pool's interest in the 32 year old hitman was first revealed earlier today by Vital, but Ian Holloway's side face competition for the Trinidad striker's signature from Birmingham, Coventry and Middlesbrough.
It is unknown whether the Seasiders will make a fresh bid for Scotland who has one year left on his Portman Road contract having joined Paul Jewell's side from Wigan for £750,000 a year ago.
One potential obstacle to the deal could be that Scotland is believed to have been given permission to travel home to Trinidad and Tobago during the current international break, making it very difficult to seal any potential deal.
Blackpool are believed to have tabled several bids over the past few hours, but it is unknown whether they are close to completing any deals, although sources close to the club tell us that Ollie is hopeful of bringing in several new faces before tomorrow's 11pm deadline.
Blackpool prepare to up Scotland bid.
By Stuart Watson (Green'Un24).
We understand that Tangerines boss Ian Holloway is a big admirer of the Trinidad and Tobago international and has instructed his board to do everything they can to sign him before the transfer window closes at 11pm tonight.
And despite producing an impressive cameo appearance in the 2-1 win over Leeds on Saturday – scoring one and making another – Town manager Paul Jewell is believed to be prepared to sell the striker at the right price.
Having already signed Michael Chopra, Nathan Ellington and Daryl Murphy this summer, the Blues boss admitted last week that he ‘probably has too many strikers’.
We understand that Championship rivals Blackpool are the only club that have made a firm offer for the striker, although their initial offer of just under £350,000 fell way short of Ipswich’s valuation and was immediately rejected yesterday.
Premier League new boys Swansea, the club where Scotland enjoyed the best spell of his career, are also believed to be monitoring the situation, while Championship duo Coventry and Birmingham have also made enquiries.
Championship new boys Brighton and League One side Sheffield Wednesday were also linked earlier in the summer.
Scotland is currently in the Caribbean preparing for two World Cup Qualifying matches with Trinidad and Tobago, the Soca Warriors hosting Bermuda on Friday before travelling to Barbados next Tuesday.
Ipswich paid Wigan a fee of around £750,000 for the 31-year-old last summer and he was a regular in his first season at Portman Road, playing mainly as a lone striker and scoring 10 goals.
Praised by Jewell for returning to pre-season training in top condition, Scotland impressed on the tour of Holland but has found his opportunities limited since the start of the new season.
Ipswich Town boss Jewell 'happy to keep' Jason Scotland
BBC News
Ipswich Town boss Paul Jewell has said he would be eager to keep hold of striker Jason Scotland.
Jewell had previously hinted he would be willing to sell the 32-year-old Trinadian, who played a part in both goals in Saturday's 2-1 win over Leeds.
"I'm very happy to keep Jason," Jewell told BBC Radio Suffolk.
"If someone wants to come in and take him, I'm in a situation where it doesn't really appeal to me at the moment," he added.
Scotland was close to joining Swansea on loan in February and, until the visit of Leeds, had made just one league appearance this term.
But after scoring one and assisting one at Portman Road over the weekend, Jewell said: "Things in football can change very quickly, I've been impressed with Jason's attitude."
Jewell added he had received "nothing more than enquiries" from other clubs about players in his squad.
Meanwhile, the Town boss is hoping to bring in at least two more names, and is working on a pair of potential loan deals.
"It's a couple of Premier League teams we're waiting on, if they get their targets they'll release their players," he said.
"If that doesn't happen we'll see what happens when the loan window opens again.
"I've spoken to one of the players who is keen to come, I haven't spoken to the other because I haven't got permission.
"Whether it happens is out of my hands."