NOTTINGHAM Forest have stepped up their efforts to land Stoke City defender Danny Collins on loan.
But the Reds face serious competition for his signature from Championship rivals Ipswich.
Steve McClaren wants to bring the 31-year-old to the City Ground to provide competition for places, after seeing Forest look uncharacteristically fragile at the back during the opening weeks of the season.
Forest failed to complete a deal to land the versatile Welsh international on a permanent deal last month, after agreeing a fee for the former Chester and Sunderland player.
But the Potters are happy for Collins to depart on loan, after leaving him out of their 25-man Premier League squad.
And, after West Brom insisted that another Forest target, England under-21 international Craig Dawson, would not be allowed out on loan from the Hawthorns, Forest are weighing up a fresh bid for the Stoke man.
But they may have to act swiftly, with Ipswich manager Paul Jewell also keen on signing Collins to address their own defensive frailties.
The Tractor Boys have conceded 13 goals in their last three Championship matches – including a 7-1 drubbing at Peterborough and a 5-2 defeat by Southampton, who Forest face tomorrow.
And, when they travel to St Mary's Stadium tomorrow, Forest will themselves be hoping to tighten things up at the back, after poor defending cost them dearly in their 4-1 defeat against West Ham.
Both clubs regard Collins, who can play in the centre or at left back, as being the answer to their problems.
And it may boil down to who is prepared to pay the biggest slice of Collins' wages, which are thought to be in excess of £30k a week.
Stoke are looking for around half that amount to be paid.
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