Town boss Mick McCarthy will look to the loan market or for a player close to the end of his contract as he attempts to add to his defensive options during January.

Currently, the Blues manager has only his regular back four - Luke Chambers, Christophe Berra, Tommy Smith and Aaron Cresswell - plus Tyrone Mings at his disposal.

“We’re having a look,” McCarthy confirmed. “The difficulty is that we’re not going to buy anybody. Can we get anybody that’s coming out of contract [in the summer] or is on loan and are they better than the ones I’ve got?

“I think they’ll have to be bloody damned good to be better than the ones we’ve got. We might need a bit of back-up, we’ll see.

“We can take loans and maybe someone who is coming out of contract who is surplus to requirements elsewhere or there could be a swap deal done."

Despite being unable to pay fees, McCarthy isn't complaining: “We haven’t bought anybody in the first place, but I accept the gig as it is and we’ve done great as it is so far with the situation as it is with the budget as it is.

"If we can get some loans, Marcus will back that, and we’ll keep looking, seeing if we can get anybody.”

Meanwhile, what's apparently the list of scouts attending Benfica's 2-0 victory over Porto yesterday is circulating and includes Town alongside the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Barcelona and Juventus.

Elsewhere, the futures of two former Blues strikers were the subject of speculation on an otherwise quiet Sunday for Town-related transfer gossip.

Jason Scotland, 34, who left the Blues a year ago, has had his contract settled by Barnsley and is set to return to Scottish football with his former clubs Dundee United and St Johnstone, as well as Hibernian, interested.

Connor Wickham, 20, who has scored eight goals in 10 games in his current loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday, is reportedly a £4 million target of Nottingham Forest.

Sunderland paid the Blues an initial £8.1 million - plus milestone top-ups and a percentage of any profit the Black Cats might make on a future sale - for the England U21 international in the summer of 2011.

We understand ex-Town reserves and Hibs centre-half Chris Hogg, 28, who announced his retirement from the professional game last week, is set to join Ryman League Division One North Needham Market.

Photo: Action Images

Marshalls_Mullet added 11:35 - Jan 13 We have 2 left backs. 3 centre backs, and a spare RB in Hewitt if needed. Even Mings can play left sided CB if needed. I don't think defence is a priority unless a very good RB is available.
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blueherts added 11:49 - Jan 13 Sean St Ledger ?
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bluefeast added 13:38 - Jan 13 stupid the amount of money wasted by the two previous managers. Now we actually have one that is a proper manager he gets zero financial backing. Its clear we need right back who can assist in final third . Possibly two wide midfielders who have genuine pace. In league one there are those players , probably available for not high fees. If we dont strengthen we will end up mid table. Then the same applies in the summer ,if we dont strengthen we will decline further as there will be 3 more prem clubs in the league etc etc. Come on ME support the club in transfer fees so we can have a real go under a manager capable of seeing us succeed

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bingboast added 13:48 - Jan 13 I do wish the moaning minnies who complain about ITFC, MM, ME and lack of business in transfer market & trying to buy success would move on. A true supporter follows through good & bad times - if they want instant success driven by money, follow Chelsea, Man City & the like. MM is performing exceptionally well with his limited funds.
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theobald1985 added 14:09 - Jan 13 mick has been backed in bringing players in to my mind.we are very sensibly trying to get players in on free transfers but if those players were under contract they would be worth money-look at what wolves paid for berra-he is no less valuble and no less of a player because we have got him on a free, i really cant understand loaning out 2 good young defenders and then trying to loan another one in as cover just keep verseli and hewitt here.mick has been allowed to bring in hunt and ebanks blake just recently.in 2 minds about mick really he has done a good job as regards results but we are so defensive and boring to watch sometimes its not really up to the standards of football under burley or royal in recent memory and dont think we would stay up playing this style if we could get to the PL

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Lightningboy added 15:39 - Jan 13 Not really sure what the point is in bringing in another defender..the current back four are arguably the best we've had since relegation 12 years ago so it'll only be someone as backup..if Berra or Smith get injured then Chambers will cover - Hewitt should then be called back and we have Cresswell & Mings on the left. It's the lack of goals from midfield that concerns me..our defensive four have scored 9 goals season..our entire midfield have 5!.

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Seasider added 16:10 - Jan 13 Agree Lightningboy.Depending who is available and system operated David McGoldrick could play at the point of a diamond midfield but really think like you that just one classy quick player in midfield is all that is required. We have Hewitt out on loan who didn't look too bad to me at right back at beginning of season;but like a lot on here think Chambo is wasted out of the middle. What flummoxes me is our owners apparent current stance regarding making money available to his Manager in this transfer window.I realise that an overspend of only £6m is allowed this season;but why are clubs like Forest Huddersfield and even Bournemouth able to buy players when from Micks remarks we can only afford freebies or loans? It worries me that recent reports(EADT)indicate that some rescheduling of debts is being requested.In my previous career in finance this was one of the first warning signs that a company is in financial trouble! Bill Blue I agree with you that TWTD gives an excellent coverage of ITFC,and I find that Ipswich Player now gives 15min highlights of Town games at a reasonable price.Fortunately I can get to all games;but this site and Radio Suffolk gives me further coverage of my beloved club.

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TimmyH added 17:00 - Jan 13 Well pointed out @lightningboy - by far our biggest problem, the midfield! No surprise a loanee but as mentioned above I don't think our problem is defense, we should look at yet another option for midfield we desperately need a player who cna make splitting passes and have the ability to run at defenses, the current midfield is too 1 dimensional.
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blueboy1981 added 19:56 - Jan 13 .... if we bring back the players we have out on loan we look a very reasonable squad - with the exception of the obvious and dire need of a midfield general who can create. The rest of the positions, where it can STILL be argued that we have square pegs in round holes, could be resolved from within the squad. No point in having players out on loan - and bringing others in other than in certain circumstances.

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