Town boss Mick McCarthy says his fourth striker signing is more likely to be a loan player and revealed he made enquiries regarding West Ham’s Ashley Fletcher, who is set to join Middlesbrough in a £7 million permanent deal, and Chelsea’s Iké Ugbo, who will spend the season with Barnsley. TWTD revealed that Fletcher was on McCarthy’s wish-list a year ago.

Asked whether he was any nearer to making a signing at today’s Open Day, McCarthy said: “We’re still trying, we’re working hard at it but as is everybody else.

“And then you see Middlesbrough spending £7 million on Ashley Fletcher. Me, like a pillock, am ringing up about trying to take him on loan. I asked in the last window and I asked this year.

“I was speaking to somebody yesterday, to his agent, whether that’s come completely out of the blue I don’t think so. He must have been laughing right up his sleeve at me asking to take him on loan.”

The Championship has seen higher than ever fees paid out this summer with players such as Ruben Neves, who has joined Wolves from FC Porto, moving for as much as £15 million.

“And that was or a holding midfield player, that’s what it was,” McCarthy reflected. “I’m amazed. I don’t know how it can continue or be sustained. I know that teams that have come down, Norwich and Villa have still got a hefty parachute payment, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Hull have got their parachute payments.

“But then you still look at other teams, Sheffield Wednesday haven’t had a parachute payment for a long time and they spent £10 million in the last window.

“Bristol City spent £5 million on a striker recently and spent last year as well. If I go through them you’d think there’s not that many that haven’t.

“But I said to the lads today, it doesn’t matter what they’re spending, there are a few who haven’t. Barnsley won’t be spending, QPR haven’t spent, they’ve an enquiry pending on whether they’re going to get a £66 million [FFP] fine, where that figure comes from God only knows. We’ve just got to do it the way we do it and we’ll be competitive.”

Does he see that as a motivating factor for his squad, which has been assembled rather more modestly?

“The players know what’s going on, it’s more about us than what other people do,” he added. “I’m not so sure that’s a motivating factor. Some of them might think ‘I wouldn’t mind a £7 million move to Boro as well’, it could be demotivating that! I’m just telling you the way it is, it’s bonkers the way it is.”

Does he expect there to be a domino effect in the market for strikers, one becoming available as another joins their club?

“Possibly, there are strikers who are coming back. Barnsley signed Iké Ugbo, I asked about him at the end of last season, spoke to his agent, spoke to Chelsea. I think Barnsley have promised him to play, he scored two goals on his debut.

“I wouldn’t promise anyone to play because that’s nonsense. We might be two games in and they’re playing hopeless, I’m not going to keep playing them, that’s for certain.

“He’s a really good player. There are other strikers, they’re at Premier League clubs and they’re all waiting until they come back from pre-season and then they’ll start letting them out, but that won’t be before the season starts.”

The Town boss confirmed that the Blues making a loan signing is more likely - “Yes” - and said there has been no interest in any of his players.

Young striker Shane McLoughlin played for Braintree in a friendly against Barnet on Tuesday but McCarthy says there’s been no word on whether the Iron want to take the 20-year-old Irishman on loan, while young defender Chris Smith is currently with another National League side.

“I’ve not heard whether they want him or not. Chris Smith’s gone to play for Bromley, is training with Bromley.

“If we can get those lads out to National League clubs I’ll do it. Even when we start back, if the window’s shut, they might have to go and play in the National League for a month, and that doesn’t have to be the kids either. It’s a good place to have a month’s football because it’s bloody competitive.”

Is Luke Hyam a more senior player who might go out on loan to a National League club? “I didn’t say that. I’m hoping he’s going to be out [training] shortly, to be honest with you.”

McCarthy confirmed that 18-year-old Pat Webber won't be joining Aldershot, where is spent time on trial recently: “Pat’s not going to Aldershot.”

Photo: TWTD

BlueMachines added 19:38 - Jul 27 Also the question needs to be why have we missed out these loans in previous years? Do they hate the style? I do
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Bluetone added 20:01 - Jul 27 Maybe we should take a shot at getting Jack Marriott 4 or 5 million should do it and he does score goals for fun. Shame we don't produce strikers like him.
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blueboy1981 added 20:16 - Jul 27 Where is all this crazy value of players going to end ? - there is no choice for many Clubs other than to produce their own talent, and bring youngsters through the system. The problem we have is youngsters aren't considered as 'real blokes' by our Manager - so what chance have we got other than for the Owner to spend big time, and pay the crazy inflated prices, or soldier on amongst the also ran fraternity ? It all makes you seriously question whether the game is worthy of spending hard earned money to relentlessly support anymore - because all it appears to be doing is condoning the continuous inflation of wages and player value on the transfer market. What a state of affairs .... !!

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Lathers added 20:23 - Jul 27 There was me thinking we might actually end up with a decent striker signing! I don't understand why we can't go out and spend £3, £4 or £5 million on a striker? Plenty of cash coming in over the past few seasons and very little going out? Admittedly some of it has been p*ss*d away on player wages for some complete wasters. The speculate to accumulate Marcus Evans who arrived at PR and backed w**ky managers with this mentality, departed long ago. Spend money on decent players and you might finally get a return on your investment Marcus. Mick doesn't help the scenario though with his love of a bargain. Maybe ME needs to lose a manager to realise that he needs to put up or p*ss off.

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blueboy1981 added 20:25 - Jul 27 ......... Jack Marriot will soon be worth £10million at this rate - and what did we get for him ? Quite simply these type of players have to be harnessed early by the Club - and best possible use made of their potential and ability.
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cat added 20:36 - Jul 27 Feck me!! Is that you blueboy1981 (undisputed king of the uppers!?????) No CAPS locks? (BTW - Quality line that one B&T!! 😂) Hopefully a temporary blip B.B, cause I completely get where your coming from!, specially on that Bart/Jerkin favouritism subject!! Better to be opinionated than sit on that there fence, after all it is a forum where different opinions make for more entertaining reading.

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mark24 added 20:45 - Jul 27 I see the spin doctors at it again Marcus Evans has not put his hand in his pocket we got an extra 1 million for Newcastle getting promoted from Murphy deal plus his transfer money was not spent so signing the players we have has only used this money up why not take a punt on Ross macormack at least he has scored goals at this level
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Guthrum added 20:49 - Jul 27 All this about "gems" from lower divisions, overseas, or wherever, doesn't take into account that they are extremely rare beasts. I doubt even one in ten punts on lower division youngsters turns out to be even averagely worthwhile. It's not like there's hundreds of them just waiting to be discovered, ready to suddenly (and unexpectedly) flourish at a much higher level. As an illustration, we've had a fairly constant stream of young wingers through the doors at Ipswich, none of whom (with the possible exception of Rowe) have been able to cut it. If they have the skill, their mentality has let them down. Lower division players are mostly playing in lower divisions for a reason. And that is not that scouts have so far failed to watch them.

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heavyweight added 21:10 - Jul 27 Sam Ford has been released by West Ham!?
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warktheline added 21:44 - Jul 27 @guthrum, I'm assuming by your post that you have total faith in McCarthy's judgement ! If you reverse your argument about the 'untold wingers' McCarthy has cast aside, surely if you were his boss ( clueless Evans in this instance ) wouldn't you question his judgement by means of a continuation of no end product....4 years and counting ! Surely this is unacceptable?

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BlueMachines added 22:24 - Jul 27 Guthrum. I'm not suggesting we will magically be able to find 11 Jamie Vardys. But buy the best at leagues 1 and 2, proven at that level, Marquis for example and see where we get. It's the only option as any premier league casts off are apparently worth £7m
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Guthrum added 22:39 - Jul 27 How many of the wingers McCarthy has rejected have gone on to real success elsewhere?
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armchaircritic59 added 23:11 - Jul 27 In answer to Guthrums last post, i'd say precisely zero. However i'd also say, who was responsible for bringing them in? If there's one position i would expect MM to get right it's wingers, given that his successful Wolves side was built round two pacy, tricky wide men, Kightly and Jarvis if my memory serves me right (it might not-it's the age!). As for ME not splashing a few million on a player (or two), i'd say the sort of money we're talking about occassionally gets found down the back of his sofa! As for FFP, don't make me laugh, hardly anyone takes notice of it, and those that do, use it as an excuse not to spend! That will only stop if QPR are fined £60 million or so. I'm not holding my breath!

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braveblue added 23:40 - Jul 27 He said last year Chambers would play regardless. He talks rubbish.
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blueconscience added 06:52 - Jul 28 As much as I agree that the fees are becoming ridiculous, unfortunately that is the inflated state of football nowadays. If Evans can't afford to keep up with the latest trends in football, perhaps this is the time he shoud think of selling the club to someone who can.
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WeaselTamer added 08:10 - Jul 28 Why doesnt ME just put his bloody hands in his pockets, and try and get Lawrence? Show a bit of ambition for once, and get the fans on his side. Funny how the likes of Bournemouth can spend stupid amounts (and achieve promotion) with their attendances, yet we're always scrimping.
2

Michael11 added 09:09 - Jul 28 Crap scouting and crap excuses is the problem. Yes, Middlesbrough, Villa & Reading etc are throwing big money about but teams like Brentford are signing young exciting players and aren't spending a huge amount. Why exactly can't we afford to offer £3m for Hugill?
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brittaniaman added 09:18 - Jul 28 I can well imagine that our attendances this year could very well be the same as Bournemouths ?? unless we have a surge on match day ticket sales !!!
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DurhamTownFan added 09:39 - Jul 28 The money is NOT going to go 'pop': clubs will find their money from somewhere. Since I've been watching football I've seen the world record go from 15m to maybe 160m this summer: its only ever increasing. This is called inflation. It might be wrong morally, and slightly silly, but if you want to be at the top, you have to spend it. It doesn't always work (see derby) but if you don't spend anything ever, you WILL be left behind. The money must be coming from SOMEwhere for clubs like Wolves and Sheff Wed, so perhaps we need to think a little bit more about where we do or do not get ours from as a club? All you lot complaining about how silly the prices are these days, yes I agree. But it isn't going to change. I feel like you've bought MM's side of this story a little too much.

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karls_dad added 10:00 - Jul 28 Just how long have we had to find a striker? sso we have Sear who will be played out of position, Mc Goldrick who will get injured by tripping over getting out of his car!! so that leaves Garner on his own up front! my confidence in this season has taken a nose dive once again! Just why do we take soo long to get things sorted!! give the new players time to gel and learn to play hoof ball which will be alien to most, once again totally deflated

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warktheline added 12:26 - Jul 28 @guthrum, you appear only to be able to defend McCarthy! @armchair, good post. Very disturbing in 4 years McCarthy hasn't been able to find or produce a decent winger! It appears to me, he installs a negative approach to football , that being, 'not to lose, instead of playing to win'.
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Warkys_Tash added 12:34 - Jul 28 Rubbish. Go buy Jordan Hugill if you want to put bums on seats and go anywhere...
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Gooders7592 added 12:37 - Jul 28 Omar Bogle has apparently been transfer listed at Wigan - 800k asking price if SSN is to be believed.... I wouldn't consider that 'bonkers'!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 12:53 - Jul 28 If Bogle is listed does that not rather suggest he hasn't made it at Wigan and it was to much of a step up in class.
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hancockingoal added 00:09 - Jul 29 I am no fan of McCarthy but for once I sympathise with him! Middlesbrough have just paid 6.5m for a 21 year old striker who has scored just 8 goals in over 40 appearances in the 2nd tier of football! Has the world gone mad? He actually might not even make the grade!!! I was beginning to regret giving up my season ticket at Portman Rd but a reality check at Felixstowe & Walton will restore some sanity!

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