Town manager Roy Keane says he is no nearer to adding any new players to his squad, despite targeting two new signings by midweek after Saturday’s 3-1 win at Middlesbrough. In addition to the permanent additions, the Blues boss is also looking at bringing in some loan players with Town currently in the midst of an injury crisis.

Keane said: “We’re negotiating with clubs and we’re negotiating with players and agents, but I don’t think we’re any nearer to signing any more players than we were last week. It’s tough.

“There’s no progress at the moment, but I’m paid to focus on being a football manager and we’ve got a game tomorrow night and I’m working with the players available and not on potential targets.

“We’ve got an owner and a chief executive and I have to step back and please God let them negotiate and try and get the players into the club that we badly need. We need support because we’re short of numbers.”

The Blues boss wouldn’t be drawn on specific targets with Wigan’s Jason Scotland and Cardiff’s Ross McCormack believed to be in his sights: “We’ve spoken to a number of clubs about different players, different options. You get feedback on transfer fees and wages and you just want the opportunity to meet these players. We’ve interest in a number of players.

“We’re also waiting for one or two clubs to get back regarding loan players and we just have to take it a day at a time because, particularly with the injuries during the game on Saturday, I was hoping to have some positive news today, but it’s been fairly quiet.

“But I understand as well — and I know everyone thinks I’m very, very impatient — that we can’t be held to ransom as much as we need support. There are wage structures in place and we’ve got to negotiate like everyone else in football and at the moment these deals don’t look too close to being done. I hope they will be closer before the weekend.”

Keane, who says a midfielder and a defender, probably a full-back, are also on his wish-list in addition to attacking players, confirmed that he is likely to play a very young side at Exeter on Tuesday with Gareth McAuley set to be rested having been withdrawn from the Northern Ireland squad with a back injury. David Norris and Grant Leadbitter also complained of stiff backs after Saturday’s game but are expected to play some part against the Grecians.

Carlos Edwards and Mark Kennedy are to undergo scans this afternoon on groin and hamstring injuries respectively. Edwards is likely to be out for a month, but Kennedy will probably be back in a fortnight.

Shane O'Connor had a virus over the weekend but is expected to be fine to make the trip to the West Country after training yesterday.

Tamás Priskin has reported for international duty with Hungary but was complaining of an ankle problem late on at Middlesbrough and may well be withdrawn from the squad facing England at Wembley.

Photo: Action Images

Wilding_Sycamore added 15:12 - Aug 9 I think we should say nothing
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Wilding_Sycamore added 15:13 - Aug 9 Bring Back Garvan!!
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Wilding_Sycamore added 15:16 - Aug 9 Maybe we should sell Wickham and ask Alan Shearer to come out of retirement
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hucks216 added 15:19 - Aug 9 Clubs moan when another manager talks about one of their players so I think it is a bit two faced of Wigan to blatantly go public and state we have a strong interest, thereby alerting other clubs that a player is available.
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Seasonticketsteve added 15:22 - Aug 9 HUCK216, I was just sitting here thinking why is it when ever we are interested in a player the opposing manager can never keep his mouth shut-Bruce about Fulop, Jones about Chopra, now Martinez about Scotland. Think it should be a neccessity that any dealings are kept private and managers should not be aloud to discuss or we should put in a clause that does not allow them to as Martinez is blatenly trying to force the price up on Scotland by starting a bidding war. I would walk away now if I was Keane.

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ipswichtillidie added 15:27 - Aug 9 It's clear to me that RK has done all he can do by identifying his targets... Those people that are saying all the doom and gloom people have come out I have to disagree here! As I've said before these players we want (Roy keane) wants come at a price and it's fairly obvious there isn't quite the budget there that we hoped there was! The purse strings have been closed up from the top hence why these deals are taking so long or falling thru! This is not to say we won't sign these players but every penny is being watched now that's for sure! I hope ME and Clegg pull their fingers out of their pockets and ass's respectfully and get in the players that Keane deserves this week! We can all judge him then but I for one think he is the right man for the job and as someone mentioned earlier this is our chance this season before the big boys coming down get the assistance that will steel the creame like Chops away from us in the future!!

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Karlosfandangal added 15:32 - Aug 9 Seasonsticketsteve I agree, but on the other hand has not Keane just done the same thing with Walters? plus Garvan Stead and Bruce
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joeippy01 added 15:38 - Aug 9 brign back garven and trotter!
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Seasonticketsteve added 15:40 - Aug 9 KARLOSFANDANGAL-I thought Ipswich's policy is that they do not comment on transfer speculation??? Once deals/talks were in place he confirmed that to the media, but with the Scotland deal, Keane has not even confirmed if he is interested in Scotland so is p*sses me off that Martinez is coming out and saying that we are interested, doubt that has gone down to well with Mr Keane, might just be me but I get the feeling that Keane would like to keep things proffessional when it comes to transfers!

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callmeted added 16:00 - Aug 9 I was listening to talksport on Saturday and a league one manager expressed his dissapointment that players from the Championship wouldnt take a wage drop even when they had been released from that division!! Then the chairman from Burnley told how they wouldnt sign targetted ex premiership players due to excessive wages. Is it a case of Town missing them all or not bending over to their demands?

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devontractorboy added 16:18 - Aug 9 I'm Keanes biggest critic normally but what a fecking state of affairs at Portman Road! Keane is the manager and he should be negotiating, not Clegg or Evans, what the hell do they know about the game??? I know we have to show financial restraint but can you imagine Sir Bobby Robson being treated this way by the Cobbolds! I honestly think Keane has done what he has been asked by the board & now a combination of failed negotiations and bad luck with injuries have left us in a right mess, for which no doubt Keane will get the blame. Come on Mr Evans, you're the boss, get Keane the players he wants and stump up the cash.......Quickly!!!!

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Lightningboy added 16:22 - Aug 9 I hear Yaya Toure is on £200k a week at man city..that's just obscene...it has a knock on effect throughout every football club which is the sad thing...no wonder clubs are going bust. About time some sort of wage-cap was brought in for the sake of the game at all levels...these players could get by on a few grand a week,I suspect most of them earn in a day what you and I earn in a year..all they're doing is kicking a bloody ball around at the end of the day.

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bluelady added 16:22 - Aug 9 agreed devontractorboy - it reads to me like Keane has been told to have a clear out and if he does he will have the cash to buy players in - instead post clear out and with clearly nowhere near a big enough squad the numpties up top have closed the purse up again.............. so we are left in rather a mess! Still lets hope this is only temporary and that we are all getting far to carried away and by the weekend we will have a replenished squad :-)

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HadleighBlueBoy added 16:26 - Aug 9 I hear its going to rain tonight. I suppose thats Keane's fault as well! Seriously though it looks as if Evans is being more careful with his money now. Having let Magilton squander £12 million and Keane spend less than wisely last year I cant blame him for that but if he is serious about getting this club to the Premier League he has to cough up more now! If Evans is happy for Keane to stay in charge he needs to back him with more cash, if not he should sack him and back the new man with cash. Either way it will cost him!

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Wilding_Sycamore added 16:35 - Aug 9 Maybe Ipswich should play football under the sea!! There are 40,000 leagues under the sea and they may have a chance of winning one!!
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Suffolk_n_Good added 16:38 - Aug 9 I believe none of this is Keanes fault, this just sounds like blame needs to be firmly put at Clegg & Evan's door, for crying out loud, Keanes done his bit, identified who he doesn't want & has shifted those on, he can't do anymore, I'm beginning to wonder if we should free up Cleggs huge salary, coz quite honestly he's done F*** all since the end of last season!! what the hell are we paying HIM for?, I thought it was down to him to negociate in these matters, either he's no good at it, or Evan's business troubles are much greater than we have been led to believe, & he's not showing the money, either way it needs sorting & bloody quickly!....... Perhaps it's clear now, that you sign players before letting half of your squad leave.

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Surco72 added 16:39 - Aug 9 Unfortunately the transfer market now appears to be like an e-bay auction where everything thing is done just before it closes or you pay over the top for a buy it now price . Keane can do nothing about this he only highlights the players he thinks will do the job right or wrong and leaves the rest to Clegg and Evans and after the last few seasons spending Evans must be a little wary ? Hadleighblueboy ... what £12 million did Magilton squander ? Mac, Norris Walters, Civelli ,Stead,D Wright wages for R Wright who was our player of the season ? Agreed Lisbie big error but that was a fraction compared to Lee Martin ?

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toforoge added 16:50 - Aug 9 Pre season signings/injuries has not been ideal but could actualy work out for the better, youngsters and last seasons flops (priskin etc) have been given a chance and at the moment are taking it. It is a very long hard season and when we get a few signings and injured players return we will have a very strong and competive squad if not the largest. The youngsters could make this club, as i cant remember 4 a long time so many coming through together. looking forward to an exciting season.

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bluelady added 16:51 - Aug 9 Sucro how about Ben Thatcher and the wonderful Campo? admit the others are all pretty good purchases - however if Prisken can keep it going it may well only be lee martin that was the mistake and who knows a year away and he MAY only may come good :-)
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MarkITFC added 16:58 - Aug 9 evans pull ur finger u tight git ! and clegg do something bout it
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jesus added 17:02 - Aug 9 excited for our younglings ... get stuck in! excited for our hungarians! if we draw or win any of our next 3 games it will be huge.
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itfc1981 added 17:07 - Aug 9 oh underpants
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Bluetone added 17:19 - Aug 9 Much as I have criticised Keane in the past this time it smacks of Clegg failing to do the job he's paid handsomely to do. Alternatively maybe Evans is just not coming up with the money. Perhaps we should get rid of Clegg. That Auntie Wainwright is good at driving a hard bargain.
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hucks216 added 17:28 - Aug 9 Well, it seems someone in Cardiff has heard of the rumours... http://www.cardiffcity-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/mccormack__olofinjana_544731/index.sh
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EatonBlue added 17:44 - Aug 9 I am in Cardiff on business - anyone want me to speak to Chopra?
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