Boss Mick McCarthy says the Blues have already begun the process of seeking to add to their squad during the January transfer window, although the Town manager believes it isn’t an ideal time to be doing business.

Having been unable to replace Daryl Murphy at the end of the August window a striker to replace the Irish international, who joined Newcastle United for £3 million, is top of the Blues’ wish-list.

McCarthy, who has been spotted eyeing potential January targets over the last couple of months and has confirmed there's money to spend, says he’s already called other managers to make enquiries regarding the availability of possible additions.

“Of course, I’ve been on the phone and we’re all alike, ‘Well, if this happens or that happens’, there’s never a definitive. That's very, very rare because people are not sure who they might get in,” he said.

“One deal may release somebody else, but it’s never been a very productive month for too many people.

“We’ll just see what happens, see who is available. It’s never a great month to do it, it’s never a great window.

“And bringing lads in that have got no experience in the Championship can always be difficult. We’re into January and the season ends in May. It takes some of them quite a while to get used to it.”

McCarthy reiterated that while he aims to bring players in, there are never any guarantees - “No, not at all” - and reflected on the division’s currently sky high transfer market.

“They said to me at Birmingham, they were telling me that they’ve got £10 million to spend. I said, ‘That’s going to go a long way in the Championship this year, isn’t it? Ross McCormack cost more than that’.”

Conversely, it is possible to make financially astute signings, particularly where players’ contracts are up in the summer and their clubs are keen not to lose them without achieving a fee.

Town signed Freddie Sears from Colchester for £200,000 in those circumstances in the January 2015 window and McCarthy will look at similar signings which might be out there.

“If we can. There are bargains out there, but every one of us is looking for them,” he said. ”We’ll see. We’ll see what we can get.”

The Blues manager says he has spoken to striker Luke Varney, whose short-term deal is up in January, but so far without a decision having been made on his future.

“I had a brief conversation with him the other day,” the Town boss said. “He’s out of contract on January 12th and I’m just discussing with him, no decisions.”

Meanwhile, McCarthy says he feels for midfielder Teddy Bishop, who is sidelined once again having suffered an ankle injury in training.

“He’s been very unlucky,” he added. “He had all that trouble with his hamstring for a while.

“We managed to get to the bottom of that and got that right and this was just a football accident, he just landed and he’s just rocked his ankle - two to four weeks. Sad for him.”

Having said earlier in the week that loanee Jonny Williams isn’t a player he sees as someone who can play in a central midfield pairing, he feels it’s only fitness issues which have prevented Bishop from playing more regularly in the position he made his own during the 2014/15 campaign.

“Teddy’s done it before, the problem with Teddy is that he’s struggled with his fitness coming back from injury as much as anything,” he continued.

“It’s a proper old shift in there, certainly if you’re playing against three. And I think he was getting there, he was certainly getting there in terms of his fitness and stamina. It’s a bit like us, it’s one step forward, one step back.”

Photo: TWTD

parkinshair added 09:20 - Dec 16 It will be interesting to see how many people take them up on the half season ticket (back the blues, the ideal Christmas present) compared to previous years. It might give the club food for thought be it ticket pricing or the direction the club is heading in.
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tractorshark added 09:24 - Dec 16 Like everyone on here, I'd be dismayed if we didn't sign a decent striker but... Looking at it rationally, if you were Ipswich would you be spouting in the press that we're desperate to sign people? That just tells other clubs to hike the price. Maybe he's being honest, maybe he's being cautious, maybe he's being deluded. We'll find out soon enough.
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Bildestoned added 09:39 - Dec 16 Surely there'll be some haggard ol' timers out there whose clubs, halfway through the season, will decide it's time to cash in their chips? Come on guys, it's not all doom and gloom!
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eMeM added 10:11 - Dec 16 If you wan't MM out, he needs to resign himself. Evans can't sack him. He never gave him any chance to spend money. Still 18 months of contract. No way. This news screams there are no money left. Once again we are wasting money on stupid loans. Don't care how good Fraser and Lawrence is. Every loan should always have buy out clause.
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Bergholtblue added 10:31 - Dec 16 If the transfer window is not the best time to make purchases when is?
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cowboynickblue added 10:46 - Dec 16 Heard on grapevine that there has already been a deal done. Around the million pound mark not sure if that is including fees and wages or just the transfer.
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Lightningboy added 10:47 - Dec 16 The main person I want to see added to our squad in January is a new manager.
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BobbyBell added 10:52 - Dec 16 The transfer window will open, lots of good deals will be done and then just as it's about to close we will be looking at the dregs that are left behind wanted by no one else. Same old story. Over the years we've sold some awesome strikers but I can't remember the last time we bought one. Marcus Stewart and Jonathon Walters were gambles that paid off big time but MM won't take a risk, he just wants a striker that can defend corners in our own box.

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iaintaylorx added 10:52 - Dec 16 He's not wrong to be honest, but because he f***ed up in the summer he is going to pay the price! MICK OUT!!
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BackTheBlues added 10:56 - Dec 16 “Of course, I've been on the phone and we're all alike, ‘Well, if this happens or that happens', there's never a definitive. That's very, very rare because people are not sure who they might get in,” he said. So why did we Sell Murph without a replacement like every other club???
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yun added 11:01 - Dec 16 He's right, but selling your best striker just before the transfer window closes without an adequate replacement is hardly the best example of good timing either, is it? It's painfully obvious we need a better goalscorer. Statistically, we have been matching the opposition over recent games in terms of chances created and shots on goal. The difference is that we cannot convert. This season is already predictable, miserable and stagnant with the exception of some promising performances from Webster, Grant, Lawrence and Bart. I'm convinced the addition of an efficient finisher would make a big difference.

2

TimmyH added 11:04 - Dec 16 Unfortunately for us McCarthy's 'terms and conditions' (as mentioned the other day) is to buy cheap as possible and look for bargains as he says himself, even the comparatively expensive signing of Webster for £700,000 in the summer is based on what we'll sell him on for in the near disant future. When it comes to signing players he's basically working to keep Evans happy and make him a good buck around the corner, the majority off MM's signings are generally journeyman, young players that don't get a look in and are sent out on loan or average by Championship standards other than that the only decent players we see gracing the PR turf are young loanees players gaining experience from Premiership clubs...sad times here.

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sgtlargent added 11:04 - Dec 16 Quiet day expected at Portman Road - Simon Milne - Jan 31st Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Cheshire_Blue added 11:14 - Dec 16 For once Penguin Blue, agree with you. Put a stop to YOUR nonsense.
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BrettenhamBlue added 11:37 - Dec 16 We'll be fine. Once Coke is fit again we can stick him up front. Score loads of goals especially with Douglas providing supply.
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Pencilpete added 11:50 - Dec 16 Excuses are in nice and early ... no new signings for us
2

dirtydingusmagee added 12:22 - Dec 16 this really puts the icing on the cake,He really must be Towns most hated manager of all time.PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE everyone just stay away from games, its no big deal, you wont be missing anything, its the only way our frustration at the demise of our once proud club will register with Evans .
4

Cloddyseedbed added 12:32 - Dec 16 Name one player that has improved since he has been here that is still here now? Takes a bit of thinking about that one. Bart for one. Name a player/s that was/were better when he/they 1st arrived and has/have gone backwards? Probably most of the current team. What does that tell you about the management? Not fit for purpose.
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Cloddyseedbed added 12:34 - Dec 16 We'll be shopping at Poundland again, or getting the dregs that are left at the end. Or we may even sign someone who gets in the team plays well, but his performances drop off after a few coaching sessions and tactical team talks.
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Cloddyseedbed added 12:38 - Dec 16 And Websters 2!!
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Carberry added 13:40 - Dec 16 So why didn't you find a replacement in August when you knew Murphy was leaving? Because you thought you could make a silk purse out of Best or Varney. Another poor piece of judgement. WHERE'S EVANS?
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tractorshark added 14:05 - Dec 16 I'll add Tommy Smith. He's improved hugely under Mick As for the guy who claims McCarthy is our most hated manager, Jesus wept.
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inghamspur added 15:45 - Dec 16 Lots of flak for MM here - but who else in their right mind would take the job right now? Inheriting a team of cast offs and loanees. The ownership needs to change, then another manager can come in. Nobody else out there otherwise.
1

grumpyoldman added 16:50 - Dec 16 Does anybody actually think if MM left nobody would take the job under the same restrictions? There would be a queue, as everyone knows Ipswich gives its manager a reasonable length of time to become a success, even Leeds who changed their manager as often as the owner changed his shirt had a lot of applicants. Please live in the real world, not in a blue coloured MM worshipping one. I personally dislike MM more than any previous manager as I have never ever boycotted PR until I became totally despondent with his tactics and banal excuses

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prebbs007 added 17:00 - Dec 16 Fark off Dinosaur We don't want you to sign anyone in January !!!! We want our NEW manager to do it !!!!!!! To$$er
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