Inthe know
NEWCASTLE United could make a move for Watford striker Odion Ighalo at the end of the season in a bid to solve their goalscoring problem.
The Magpies are among the lowest scorers in the top flight this season and have been scouting highly-rated front man Ighalo.
He has scored 17 goals for the Hornets this season and only Ipswich’s Daryl Murphy has scored more in the Championship.
His scoring record hasn’t gone unnoticed and Premier League managers have been sending their scouts to watch him in action.
Ighalo, a former Nigerian U20 international, joined Watford on a season-long loan deal from Udinese in the summer and then signed permanently in October.
The 25-year-old hit the headlines in January when he scored four times against Blackpool as Watford recovered from 2-0 down to win 7-2.
This season is already the best tally of his career and it means that Watford could have trouble keeping him at Vicarage Road.
Newcastle, West Brom and Hull are all planning to make more checks on him between now and the end of the season.
Watford already believe that with his scoring record Ighalo is worth around £6m. BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer is set to decide this week if he is going to make a move for out-of-favour Ipswich front man Paul Taylor.
Taylor, 27, is out of contract at the end of the season and Ipswich are trying to offload his £10,000-a-week wages from their books. NORWICH’s plans to make a loan move for Everton left-back Luke Garbutt have been put on hold after Leighton Baines suffered an injury.
The England U21 international is highly rated but, until Baines got hurt, was the third choice at Goodison Park.
And the Toffees are considering letting him out on loan for the rest of the season to get regular match action.
The 21-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has been locked in talks with Everton about a new deal.
But they are struggling to reach an agreement with the player holding out for a massive pay rise.
Norwich were hoping to do a deal last week but Garbutt was pressed into action against Young Boys in the Europa League and then Arsenal.