Ipswich Town likely to make fresh bid for in-demand Blackpool defender Curtis Tilt

The last offer to be rejected was the £550,000 bid which was reported by The Mirror earlier this month. But the East Anglian Daily Times claim the two clubs are getting closer on valuation and a new bid is expected to arrive soon. Ipswich boss Paul Hurst is a keen admirer of Tilt, having looked to sign him during his time at Shrewsbury Town. Yesterday The Gazette reported how Scottish giants Rangers were unlikely to make a move for the sought-after centre back despite having sent scouts to watch him in action during Pool’s behind-closed-doors friendly win against Burnley on Tuesday. While the 26-year-old is on a list of potential new recruits for Steven Gerrard, it is believed he is well down on the new manager’s wishlist. Any chance of Rangers making a move for the centre back is considered unlikely while other targets remain on the table. Millwall’s Jake Cooper is Gerrard’s number one choice but Rangers have seen three bids knocked back, the most recent worth £3m. New Den boss Neil Harris insists Cooper is not for sale. Rangers have yet to decide whether to return with a fourth offer but Gerrard is determined to add to his defensive options before the season starts. Tilt is a man in demand having already been linked with Championship clubs QPR and Reading, as well as Ipswich. Speaking to The Gazette last month, Pool boss Gary Bowyer said it would take at least £1m to prise the defender away from Bloomfield Road, suggesting any club thinking they can get a bargain deal for Tilt “has another thing coming”. It comes after a fine debut season for the centre-back, who made a seamless transition from non-league after signing from National League side Wrexham summer. Last season was his first experience of the Football League but the Walsall-born Tilt impressed and ended up winning three gongs at the club’s end-of-season awards night, including The Gazette’s player of the season. Tilt put in a string of man of the match displays and was a virtual ever-present for Pool last season, missing only two League One games through suspension and finishing the campaign with 45 appearances to his name. He built up an impressive central defensive partnership with Clark Robertson, who joined Championship side Rotherham United on a free transfer at the end of last month.