Port Vale's Leon Constantine is today's striker reported to be on Jim Magilton's January shortlist. The 28-year-old is currently League One's top scorer with 18 goals.

Constantine is out of contract in June and has said he will not be signing a new deal with the Valiants until after he has weighed up any other offers which might come his way during January.

Barnsley had a £250,000 bid turned down in the summer and are reported to be close to making another move for the former Southend man.

Constantine is slightly older than the type of player Jim Magilton has generally targeted, with most of the strikers eyed of late in their early 20s and either in the lower leagues or Ireland.

As reported last week, Bury's Andy Bishop has been watched, having apparently caught the eye when playing against Gary Roberts's Accrington Stanley side earlier in the season when Jim Magilton was sizing up the winger.

Rotherham's Will Hoskins has been monitored since pre-season, but the 20-year-old's likely £600,000 asking price will probably be too high for the Blues, despite nearly £1 million being available for fees and wages in the transfer window.

The Blues have already allocated £200,000 of that for Gary Roberts's permanent transfer, while more is likely to go on signing Cork City midfielder George O'Callaghan, who has been on trial since September.

Magilton has reportedly denied a recent newspaper report linking Brighton's Alex Revell.

The Town manager is looking to add a striker, a right-back and perhaps a midfielder and a loan goalkeeper - Wigan's Mike Pollitt could return - during January.

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