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Milne: We're Very Keen to Keep Bart and He Wants to Stay
Wednesday, 27th Dec 2017 16:57

Town MD Ian Milne says he knows nothing of the weekend reports of Crystal Palace interest in keeper Bartosz Bialkowski and says owner Marcus Evans and manager Mick McCarthy will look at which areas of the squad might need strengthening during January in the next couple of weeks.

A report on Sunday claimed Bialkowski, 30, was interesting the Eagles, who are keen to add a keeper to their ranks during January.

Milne says there’s currently nothing new to report ahead of January with the Blues already having agreed a deal to sign 19-year-old Waterford striker Aaron Drinan when the window opens next week.

“I’m sure Marcus and Mick are looking to see what’s out there,” he told BBC Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch prior to the Boxing Day game against QPR. “Have I heard any news about Bart and anybody else? No, we haven’t heard about Bart.

“Bart is one of our number one players, if I can put it like that. In previous seasons, I’m surprised that nobody has come after him, and they haven’t. We’re naturally very keen to keep him and I know he wants to stay."

While there is likely to be speculation regarding Bialkowski among others during the window, Milne points out that owner Evans has turned down significant bids in the past for key players - most notably the £7 million offer from Leicester for David McGoldrick in August 2014 - rather than cashing in and using the funds generated for wider squad rebuilding.

“We have kept players even though there have been bids out there for him to strengthen the squad,” he said.

“So it is what’s right for the squad and at the moment with such good attacking football going on, and winning football, Marcus and Mick are not going to let that go lightly. We’re pushing on and pushing forward.”

However, he says players’ heads can sometimes be turned, even if he doesn’t think that is happening with anyone in the squad at the present time.

“Sometimes the salaries being offered by the Premier League sides will turn heads, but at the moment I’m not hearing any bad signs from the squad or anybody else that people are keen to go. It’s a very happy squad and a very confident squad.”

Regarding January additions, does Milne believe Evans is likely to give McCarthy any money to spend during the window, the Blues boss having previously suggested loans are the most likely option unless anyone is sold.

“I think that over the next couple of weeks, if they feel that they are weak in a certain area, and let’s face it I think in midfield [due to the current injury problems] we’re weak, and there are some opportunities, I’m sure they will look at it,” Milne added.

“They don’t want to disappoint themselves or the fans when we’re 10th and going the right way. There’s every possibility they will start looking and see what’s available.”

Bialkowski is one of a number of players whose contracts are up in the summer but with the club having an option to keep them for a further year which needs to be triggered before the season’s final match.

Cole Skuse, Teddy Bishop, Adam McDonnell, Luke Hyam, Kieffer Moore and Kevin Bru are in the same position, while the Blues exercised the option in Jonas Knudsen’s deal last week with his terms requiring that the additional year must be activated by the end of December.

David McGoldrick’s deal is up at the end of June but with no option for an extra year in the Irish international's contract.

Asked whether the contract situation will be addressed soon, Milne said: “It is a long list and they will go through it and start working on them, as they already have with some of them, sorting it out. We’ll see how the transfer season goes and that will be part of it as well.”


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ArnieM added 17:04 - Dec 27
..... well quit the chat and get him signed on that dotted line , pronto !
2

Wickets added 17:05 - Dec 27
For this read we want lots for him!
4

12th_Man added 17:21 - Dec 27
Well that's Bart Off Then
0

jas0999 added 17:40 - Dec 27
Wouldn't at all be surprised if we sell him or one of our other assets.
1

Kikapu added 17:49 - Dec 27
'Always look on the bright side of life', I seem to remember someone singing. There's no rush to sign deals with any of our existing players immediately, and even if we did sign Bart up now with a big increase in salary it wouldn't match any subsequent Premier League team's offer.
The rest of the future summer re-signings will be motivated to play well and hard to win a decent contract extension. I fear for Hyam, though. Poor lad.
1

RegencyBlue added 18:02 - Dec 27
More spin which really says nothing new.

As for discussing which areas of the squad need strengthening "in a couple of weeks" it almost beggars belief. This should have been done already and potential targets identified!

I suspect we are being prepared for the usual lack of spending in January.
4

heathen66 added 18:08 - Dec 27
Sorry, did I read this right... ???
Mick and Marcus are going to decide in the next couple of weeks what areas need strengthening.
Does the window not open in 5 days time...nothing like a bit of forward planning...
It is a January transfer window...not a February transfer window
Mick and Marcus should have discussed this already and negotiations should have already started, it is no wonder we struggle to get deals over the line.
A Centre Back and a box to box midfielder to replace Huws is an absolute necessity as an absolute minimum.
As far as Bart is concerned, I believe we have already made plans by signing Gerken on a 3 year deal (why else sign a reserve keeper on a long term deal on Championship money, if he is never going to play)
11

markytitfc added 18:23 - Dec 27
"One of our number one players"?????
What a dicx
0

Kesgraveblue57 added 18:35 - Dec 27
He will go if the price is right it is as simple as that, we are a selling club plus he would treble his money
4

blue75 added 18:49 - Dec 27
This is a joke they've no idea what they're doing contract negotiations should've already been underway months ago. If there's targets for January negotiations should've already started. Just another sign that Evans doesn't know what he's going to do with McCarthy's own contract situation. Either sign him up or pay him off this uncertainty is not going to help as the season draws to a close.
1

IpswichFuture added 18:58 - Dec 27
This bloke trots out the same meaningless, inane drivel every time he opens his mouth. He is clearly so far from having any actual input into major decisIon making at the club that his opinion is of zero value in any case.
3

Bluetone added 19:27 - Dec 27
The chief Company mushroom has spoken and said absolutely nothing believable.
3

bluehook added 19:35 - Dec 27
This Milne bloke is a right d!ck.
He really hasn't got a clue about what's going on.
To me, he seems to go about business like a matron at a public school.
Wasted wages.
5

rfretwell added 20:00 - Dec 27
Bart has said he is very happy to stay at Town but if a big fat salary offer came along he would surely tell the club he wants to go.
1

Carberry added 20:55 - Dec 27
It is pointless interviewing Milne, he is not part of the decision making process. And to patronise us with rubbish such as the owner has a record of turning down offers for key players is ridiculous - Murphy, Mings, Cresswell, Wickham, Walters ..... who is the next?
5

bobble added 22:04 - Dec 27
a new manager would strengthen the club.
2

carsey added 22:07 - Dec 27
Milne is a pointless Evans mouthpiece and really isn't worth reporting on other than for comedy value.
The way I read things is Bart will go if Palace what him and the contract is significantly better than he is on here which it will be. I don't blame him if goes with football being a relatively short career he should look to give his family the best life style possible.
My concern is whether he can be replaced for a small sum of money because there is no chance McCarthy will get all the cash to find another goalkeeper.
2

itfcserbia added 22:14 - Dec 27
"at the moment with such good attacking football going on, and winning football" - WTF?!
3

KiwiBlue2 added 03:08 - Dec 28
Milne is like a voice from another world
2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:01 - Dec 28
While I have long since--like most on here I believe--ceased to take the spin coming out of PR seriously, I don't think we should interpret the above to mean that Mick has suddenly begun to think about January targets. I'm sure he thinks about possible additions all the time (give him that credit at least) and now is the moment to sit down with Marcus and see what is actually possible. Not that I am particularly optimistic that much will be on the table, mind, from the owner's viewpoint.
1

tractorboybig added 07:18 - Dec 28
So mcgoldrick to be sold before he walks, Bart off to the premier league, moore sold, sukse a new contract and a nobody irish man signed, January sorted,
3

KiwiBlue2 added 07:21 - Dec 28
A couple of strategic acquisitions be they loans or purchases could be the difference between the play offs and earlier end of season. We must not repeat the mistake made in January couple of years ago when we didn't strengthen and missed out. That said they have to bring ability to push us ahead.
1

bluetit added 09:28 - Dec 28
If we sell Bart, we will drop so many points.

He's is the reason we are outside the top 6, saves our skin near enough every game.
5

Currie10 added 10:30 - Dec 28
“They don't want to disappoint themselves or the fans when we're 10th and going the right way. There's every possibility they will start looking and see what's available.”

Not the greatest noises to be making- I read that ' ah jesus christ we're doing better than anticipated and MAY be able to achieve something this season - HELL '
1

Razor added 11:11 - Dec 28
Have a look in the next couple of weeks-----they should know exactly what they need and want NOW!!

If we could get money for Didz then its a no brainer really, and Darren Bent should just be about fit now?

Obviously midfield is weak and needs help and keeping Bart is also a no brainer.

Lets see what happens eh!?
1


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