Coventry's striking sensation Michael Mifsud, already said to be interesting Alex McLeish at Birmingham, could instigate a three-way transfer scrap as Wigan and Reading join the race for his £3m-rated signature.

Mifsud struck a brace at Manchester United in the League Cup earlier this season, earning the moniker 'The Messi of Malta' from La Gazzetta dello Sport, bizarrely.

He then hammered home another pair away at Blackburn in the FA Cup at the weekend, prompting renewed speculation that he is simply too good for the Championship.

Midfielder David Norris could have a problem as he bids to leave Plymouth: despite Leicester, Ipswich and Norwich all tabling £1.2m bids, Bolton would receive 50 percent of that.

Argyle want a round million and have asked the potential buyers to negotiate the sell-on clause with Bolton. Now Championship Transfer Talk, unlike its bully moneybags big brother, is all for the smaller clubs: but why agree to the clause if you didn't intend to respect it? D'oh.

Norwich may have more joy with Bulgarian defender Valentin Iliev from CSKA Sofia - he has flown in to seal a move.

Leicester though are battling someone else - Watford this time - for Graham Kavanagh of Sunderland. The Kav has told Leeds to get stuffed with their bid as League One is apparently beneath his talents - and Foxes boss Ian Holloway is prepared to put up silly money to bag him.

When will these clubs learn their financial lessons? Oh yeah - they've got Milan Mandaric, for a few years at least. Carry on City, carry on.

Charlton are leading the race to sign Cardiff captain Darren Purse with Southampton and Colchester also in for him. Don't laugh: the U's bagged everyone's favourite OAP Teddy Sheringham in the summer.

Tony Pulis's tough Stoke side may be given a little guile if Stelios Giannakopoulos joins from Bolton for £750,000, while Manchester United centre-half Ryan Shawcross will soon be a full-time Potter after City agreed a fee of over £1m with United.

It wouldn't be a day in the transfer market without a t'penny from Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock. He wants a cheap deal for combative midfield man Shaun Derry, who is on loan from Leeds.

Burnley are interested in taking Richard Chaplow back to Turf Moor, West Brom manager Tony Mowbray has revealed.

"I've had a conversation with Burnley's manager [Owen Coyle] but it appears at this moment they aren't in a position to make any progress on those discussions. If the right offer were put to us we'd listen."

Mowbray also wants to send Neil Clement out on loan for the rest of the season to gain fitness - preferably to a Championship club.

League One strugglers Crewe may prove an alternative destination as they have said they fancy taking a left-back until the end of the campaign.

Barnsley's bid for Blackpool striker Keigan Parker looks to have ended in disaster as the Tykes' offer does not match the player's demands.

Manager Simon Davey has also transfer-listed club captain Paul Reid, Ireland goalkeeper Nick Colgan and Andy Johnson.

Across South Yorkshire Sheffield Wednesday's American defender Frank Simek may be off for £2m while Derby's Michael Johnson is worried about his move to Hillsborough - because of boardroom wrangling at the money-strapped Owls.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport