Several Championship clubs - including Stoke City - are showing interest in Ipswich Town striker Ali Al-Hamadi, the EADT and Ipswich Star understands.

The 22-year-old did hold talks with newly-appointed West Brom boss Tony Mowbray this week, but the Baggies opted not to pursue the deal.

It's understood that Ipswich have discussed both loan and permanent deals with others interested in the Iraqi international.

Stoke recently appointed Mark Robins as their new manager. The Potters are currently two points above the drop zone in the Championship. Derby County and Oxford United were both interested in Al-Hamadi last summer.

Al-Hamadi arrived at Portman Road for an initial £1m from League Two club AFC Wimbledon last January and it's understood that deal has risen to around £2m with add-ons. If the front man is to leave permanently, the Blues would be looking to make a healthy profit on that outlay.

Al-Hamadi became an instant hit with Town fans last season and played an important role in helping the club secure promotion to the Premier League.

Having scored four goals in three starts and 24 sub appearances for the club, the Liverpool-raised front man finds himself behind Liam Delap and the fit-again George Hirst in the striker pecking order.

The January additions of Ben Godfrey and Jaden Philogene, plus the loan recall of George Edmundson, leaves Kieran McKenna needing to cut three senior players to stay within the Premier League's 25-man squad rule.

Town still want to add another striker before the deadline of February 3, but it's understood reports linking Galatasaray and Denmark full-back Elias Jelet are wide of the mark.

TOWN SQUAD

Senior players (28): Muric, Walton, Slicker; Godfrey, Tuanzebe, Johnson, H.Clarke; O'Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Burgess, Edmundson; Davis, Townsend; Morsy, Phillips, Cajuste, Taylor, Luongo; Burns, Ogbene; Chaplin; Philogene, Szmodics, Broadhead, J.Clarke; Hirst, Al-Hamadi.

Under age (3): Enciso (TBC), Hutchinson, Delap.