On-loan star Keith Andrews has expressed his surprise that Ipswich are not doing more to retain his services on a permanent basis.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder has netted nine goals in 19 appearances since arriving from Blackburn in January and is set to return there after the home clash with Nottingham Forest on January 2.

Andrews, 31, has become a target for several other clubs as a result of his performances for Ipswich but manager Paul Jewell, most recently as Saturday after the home win over Derby County, has regularly insisted the club would do everything within its power to keep him at Portman Road.

Premiership clubs Aston Villa, Everton, Bolton, Swansea and Wigan have all been linked with Andrews, who confirmed his agent met with Town owner Marcus Evans and chief executive Simon Clegg on Monday.

Andrews said: “I can’t really say too much but I haven’t been given the impression by the club that they want to do anything.

“Going back a few weeks I told my agent to phone the club out of courtesy because he was speaking to other clubs on my behalf, which he was fully entitled to do.

“With me being here and enjoying it I wanted him to touch base with Ipswich but from our point of view they haven’t given us the impression that they want to do anything, so that’s where we are at the moment.”

Asked if he had discussed the possibility of joining Town on a permanent basis, Andrews replied: “No, I haven’t spoken to Paul about it at all. Maybe that is the plan in the next few weeks — I’m not too sure — but nobody has spoken to me on a personal note.

“There have been very few discussions between the senior management at the club and my agent, so I’ve nothing to report.”

Andrews confirmed that several other clubs had shown an interest, adding: “It’s a little bit hazy at the moment. Blackburn are in a bit of disarray and we don’t know what way it is going to go there.

“Who knows if there is going to be a change of manager? As it stands I’ll be going back after the Forest game and I’ll just have to wait and see how January pans out.”

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

LFCITFC added 16:54 - Dec 21 For a club with an owner with MILLIONS, why has he only spent very little money since PJ has been in charge? You cant buy anyone decent with nothing. CLEGG & EVANS OUT
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itfchorry added 16:56 - Dec 21 Clegg Out Now
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Keaneish added 17:00 - Dec 21 Er...shouldn't Andrews be picking this up with Kean as it's through him we have to deal with and not Andrews agent to begin with. Jewell did publicly say this so not sure why Andrews and his agent have felt the need to speak out on this.. ...bit of a p**s take to be fair so probably from some monkey money grabbing agent.
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Blue041273 added 17:02 - Dec 21 Would be happy to see him stay but realistically I can't see it happening. His agent will be looking for the best all round deal he can get and with several Premier League clubs interested we won't be top of his list. KA might be surprised that more effort hasn't yet been made to keep him at PR but he must be aware that he would have to take a substantial cut in salary to stay here long term. That would not be in the interests of either KA or his agent. Don't blame him for trying to stir things up though.

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Bluetone added 17:13 - Dec 21 For phuck sake Clegg get your finger out of your anus and start doing the job you're paid for.
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cunning_stunt added 17:41 - Dec 21 Personally I'd prefer any funds to be directed towards the central defence. Central midfield without Andrews will come good; perm two from Bullard, Martin, Leadbitter, Bowyer, Kennedy and Jet - the envy of most Championship clubs.
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bedsitfc added 17:45 - Dec 21 see cant speak to him without permission, we could be accused of tapping-up. we need to come to an agreement with blackburn. For people to have a go at cleggy all i will say who got him here in the first place.
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EatonBlue added 17:48 - Dec 21 Sign him up. We are unlikely to find another player with his presence. Yes, there are quicker and more skilful players but they tend to be dispossessed too easily.
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Plums added 18:04 - Dec 21 Player nearing end of loan spell in 'come and get me plea' shocker! Wise up folks, this is business.
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h32 added 18:11 - Dec 21 This doesn't surprise me - TYPICAL of the current regime - ' keep us in the dark and feed us nothing but BULLSH#T '. Under this lot this beloved Club of OURS (because without us there is no Club) WE ARE GOING KNOWHERE - other than in the wrong direction.
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h32 added 18:20 - Dec 21 ITFC is no longer a professional outfit - just a play thing for the time being - for some. I am livid - as you can tell.
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PSGBlue added 18:29 - Dec 21 Not sure this bad news. It sounds like a come and get me message to Ipswich, he obviously hasn't ruled out a move to us yet. I suspect, as ever money will be the motivator. Pay him enough (as per Bullard) and he will come.
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Mungo added 18:30 - Dec 21 ITFC do want to keep KA. PJ has said so a number of times and so has SC, although both have acknowledged that a permanent deal would be difficult due to KA's wage situation. I expect there has been a conversation with the agent, and that the agent is looking to at least match KA's current wage at Blackburn, which is beyond any Championship club, especially with the financial fair play rules coming in. The decision ultimately lies with KA. Come to ITFC (on a temporary basis?) play regularly and secure his place at the Euros, or take the most money he can get at a Premier league club and risk spending the rest of the season on the bench...

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TractorMan added 18:40 - Dec 21 What more can we do? The owner met his agent - not many clubs can say that in terms of interaction!!
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alfromcol added 19:05 - Dec 21 TractorTrog Spot on.
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irishtim added 19:08 - Dec 21 How many times do i have to say Keith andrews wants to sign for us & not on big wages
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alfromcol added 19:11 - Dec 21 h32 Jumping the gun again. You are getting angry based on pure speculation. Calm down and let the wheels turn. I am sure everything that can be done is being done to keep KA at Portman Road. PJ and the rest aren't daft, they know his worth. Phil's report doesn't say whether KA's comments were made after the meeting with his agent or after. It makes a whole lot of difference. In terms of protocol, are ITFC allowed to talk to another club's player about signing on if he still has over a year left on his contract??

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nearly50yearsblue added 19:12 - Dec 21 Trust me,Marcus Evans does the deals and Simon Clegg does as he is told.
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Dissboyitfc added 19:23 - Dec 21 BlueBadger i believe i am right in saying, bullard did his own negotiations and had no agent.. as for the andrews saga, just heard him speaking on the radio.... havent we learnt our lesson from past fiasco's about players not feeling wanted and looking elsewhere? Unless of course they are not signing any new players, because they want to get rid of jewell and give the new manager as clean a slate as possible, which is what they did when getting jewell, its a thought, but i hope not still want to give jewell a chance.... COYB

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harlingblue added 19:27 - Dec 21 I agree totally with Garv, Andrews scores goals, looks to be a possible good Captain, BUT never really stamps his authority in his overall play, and doesn't create much for our frontrunners. He could become a possible hero here,(with his goals) but would be a 'bench warmer' in the Prem. I wish players were there own men and told the Agents what they wanted!
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rosseden added 19:31 - Dec 21 Dissboy - bullard got an agent after the hull disciplinary thing as he was advised to by his lawyers. his agent did the deal with Evans. As for KA, everyone jumping the gun, cant do a deal til january and his agent is just pushing it out there. if you recall there have been many comments about the fact that Blackburn dont answer the phone and are in complete disarray.......

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Tractastic added 19:33 - Dec 21 Andrews says “Going back a few weeks I told my agent to phone the club out of courtesy'' Not the words of a player desperate to stay and not necessarily the words of a player you'd want to stay.Not a big fan of PJ or Clegg and it seems strange a player would come out and say this officially when he works with PJ all week? Maybe its a question of whether Andrews and Bullard can play in the same team? Just hoping ME has his finger on the pulse and we become pleasantly surprise with the activity in January.

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alfromcol added 19:42 - Dec 21 Paul Jewell, most recently as Saturday after the home win over Derby County, has regularly insisted the club would do everything within its power to keep him at Portman Road. Andrews said: “I can't really say too much but I haven't been given the impression by the club that they want to do anything. PJ made that comment at the weekend. How can KA say after hearing PJ say this can he say he hasn't been given the impression that the club want to do anything when PJ is saying the club will do everything in its power to keep him!!!! Perhaps KA's comments were made before he heard PJ??? Any clarification Phil?

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Postmaster added 19:43 - Dec 21 Have to admit this sounds like agent talk more than anything though time will tell. Plus I cant imagine the Blackburn board are particularly easy to deal with at present and the manager is clearly on another planet - albeit a very happy positive planet...
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AlanMahon2011 added 19:48 - Dec 21 CLEGG OUT
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