Boss Mick McCarthy says recruiting the right players over the summer is crucial if the Blues are to push on into the top six next season. Town ended 2013/14 in ninth, four points off the play-off places.

“To do that, recruitment is vital for us,” McCarthy told the club site. “We won’t be rushing into anything and signing players straight away.

“That doesn’t happen because clubs don’t want to pay out for players early in the summer when the season doesn’t start until August.

“We are beavering away, looking at getting in the best in free transfers and Bosmans. There are good players about in that area but we won’t be the only club looking at that.

“There might be a swap deal to be done somewhere. We have been very proactive and calculating in what we are doing, which is trying to improve on the squad.”

Meanwhile, former loanee Jonny Williams continues to be linked with a summer switch to Swansea City. The 20-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder says he’s aware of the Swans’ interest with the prospect of a £4 million move having first been mooted last month.

"I spoke to my agent who says [Swansea] were interested," Williams said. "I need to play football, preferably at Palace, but if not I'd have to consider playing elsewhere.”

Town boss McCarthy has said he would be interested in signing the 20-year-old Wales international on loan again next season if he were to become available.

Elsewhere, ex-Blues striker Michael Chopra has revealed that he is to join a club in the Indian Super League following his release by Blackpool. The 30-year-old failed to net in six starts and 14 sub appearances for the Seasiders last season.

Former Town manager Roy Keane has left his role as an ITV pundit and will reportedly joining the coaching staff at Aston Villa.

Keane, who has ruled himself out of the running for the Celtic manager’s job, is expected to take the role as Paul Lambert’s assistant at Villa Park alongside his current position as Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland deputy.

Photo: Action Images

urbanpenguin added 15:43 - Jun 4 Hm, Chopra to Indian league? A place where I am sure there are no conflicts whatsoever between gambling and sport...
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theobald1985 added 15:58 - Jun 4 doubtless there will be a couple of free agents of decent quality who can improve our squad but the main thing next season should be that we see a change in style with some more expansive attacking play and less long balls. we have some decent players at the club and could do well this year but need to play for 3 points rather than 1
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Lightningboy added 16:10 - Jun 4 Chopra,what a joke. Shame Keano's left ITV..it was the only thing their World cup coverage had going for it. As for our recruitment,I hope we don't miss out on some decent targets for the sake of saving on a few weeks wages.
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tractordownsouth added 16:12 - Jun 4 Oh no not the assombalonga link again.
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Wickets added 16:42 - Jun 4 Clever comments by Mick, i think he means just 'cos we aint got any news on signings yet, we are still doing our job stuff in the pipeline just be patient.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 17:10 - Jun 4 How about (all released) GK- Westwood or Craig Gordon if fit. If not Speroni LB, Johnson from Sheff W or Liam Ridgewell who is CB but can play LB, or Moxey CB, for cover Sam Hutchison, young good back up and maybe increased completion. or Ridgwell as above Right Back Stepehn Reid, 33 so ideal until one of young RB is ready to step up DM Kagisho Dikgacoi, I just think he's class. Would be above Hyam or Skuse for me or Lugano who could do a good job for a couple of seasons AM Jack Collison or Robert Koren, hopefully explain themselves. Striker Shoala Amiobi- Not for me but seems Mickesque

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Seasider added 17:46 - Jun 4 Only person to be marked down is Algarve Blue why? Are things so bad that have to wait til August before we buy anyone,when most of best players snapped up. I said buy but language again suggests cant afford anyone.Apart from the two years when club in administration,Mick spent less last season than in any season since 1982/83 when I believe transfer fees that season were £5000 !!!.This is over 30 years ago for goodness sake;surely the club is not able to spend a little,and please dont quote FFP and money paid out in wages as this is happening at every club.

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jas0999 added 18:14 - Jun 4 Completely agree. We need to bring quality and pace into this very hard working team. Burnley proved that you don't have to spend big, but equally you can't rely totally on free transfers. A couple of fee transfers will be required to compete, and assuming we sell Cresswell, I'll be disappointed if money received is not reinvested in the squad. Not saying we spend millions, but a decent creative midfielder will likely cost something. Big Summer ahead for Evans.

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budgieplucker added 18:20 - Jun 4   I thought most players contracts expired on 30 June?   Why can't you sign and agree a contract with a player to start on a certain date.   Pre-season training will start in early July so surely you want to blend your new players in rather than wait for August.   I suspect if we sign too many people in  in August on 2 year deals then all we do is compromise ourselves by paying the final two months of their contract during the close season of their exit — then under the well worn FFP argument stopping you signing somebody else in the summer (because you could be doubling up on salaries)  - unless we offer them 22 month contracts.   Seems to me there is a lot of rubbish being spoken here or the purse strings are so tight or tweedle dee and dum not really cut out for this game.   I bet the more rotund one would be happy to eat two pies rather than settling for one!!!   Â

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itfchorry added 23:04 - Jun 4 Keane Out
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warkonthewildside added 04:10 - Jun 5 Assombalonga will cost a fortune, there will be no money in the war chest again! Its all doom and gloom, doom and gloom. £5 million plus sell on clauses for Cressy and then we can start negotiating for wages for Bosmans.
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commuterblue added 08:32 - Jun 5 but it's not that long since burnley were in the prem and they had the money from Charlie Austin. Indulge me to get into Rafa mode (Benitez, not Nadal) Fact 1: ME is still funding this club to the tune of ~£5m a year. We'd all like to be able to get the best players into PR, but ultimately we don't have parachute payments and we don't generate enough ticket revenue (which in my view is the fault of the economy, not the town ticketing strategy). Fact 2: For each Matt Holland and Hermanmator there's a Finidi George or Adrian Paz, just as for each David McGoldrick (dare I say Daryl Murphy? probably not quite yet) there's a Lee Bowyer. Fact 3: Picking players on a free is still pretty expensive. There will often be a sign on fee, and wages will be higher because they know clubs will price in their avoided transfer fee. Fact 4: Well this is a semi fact. Not because it is partially arousing but because I'm only 80% sure. Budgieplucker the reason we can't agree a contract before their other contract is up, is because there is a rule that says at the end of contract if a player doesn't have another contract then they get paid an extra month from their old employer. So we would essentially have to buy them out of that.

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Bradley19ITFC added 10:21 - Jun 5 Bring in Koren and a new winger!
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Lightningboy added 10:43 - Jun 5 Can't see us getting Jonny Williams back but I wouldn't mind us getting his Welsh counterpart George Williams on a season long loan from Fulham..watched him play for the u21's last week and he came on for the last 20 minutes against Holland last night and absolutely terrorised them..very,very quick and very,very direct. Great prospect..the next Gareth Bale....?
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TimmyH added 15:18 - Jun 5 spot on jas0999 - be very surprised if we get 2 free transfers as the same quality of McG and Berra as per last summer, so I feel MM is relying on the departure of Cresswell to free up funds to try and get more quality into the squad.
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bluejay added 18:28 - Jun 5 Other clubs are pushing the boat out already, we need new players if we are going to challenge for the top six. The worry is still the debt.
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Whitecaps_Fan added 21:01 - Jun 5 Who wants to bet that Keane & Lambert aren't together by the end of the 2014/15 season?
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