Barnsley chief executive Ben Mansford says Town are yet to make contact with the newly-promoted South Yorkshire club regarding the recruitment of loanee Paul Digby on a permanent basis.

The Blues are expected sign the 21-year-old during the close season with manager Mick McCarthy having confirmed that he wants to keep the former England U19 and U20 international at Portman Road and with the player saying he is keen to stay.

When Digby, who made one Championship start and three sub appearances for the Blues in addition to two FA Cup games, joined Town on loan in January the deal agreed included the proposed terms of a free transfer this summer if he impressed.

However, Mansford told the Barnsley Chronicle that the Blues are yet to make contact.

“I believe Paul deemed his spell at Ipswich to be successful and I was suspecting that he would have looked to have moved to Ipswich permanently but that hasn’t been facilitated by now,” he said.

“If it hasn’t been facilitated by 27th June then Paul will come back and be part of our squad because he is contracted until the end of next season.

“I am surprised it hasn’t happened to Ipswich so far. I’m not quite to the bottom of the reasons why.

“If he is here with us for pre-season then we hope that experience at Ipswich would be positive. He enjoyed his time at Ipswich.”

While with Town Digby, who had played most of his football in midfield, operated as a right-sided centre-half. Despite Town’s recruitment of another right-sided central defender, Adam Webster from Portsmouth, we understand the Blues remain interested in adding Digby to their squad.

Photo: Action Images

PortmanTerrorist added 09:25 - Jun 17 Do we still say in Mick we trust ? I still want to, but certainly would have liked to have seen a more proactive summer to this point. Assume lack of activity is a sign of waiting to see who no one wants so as to pick them up on our terms.....ideally free once more. If so, then unless there is internal growth, then hard to see how we can be incrementally better than recent seasons ! Come on Mick, do a Roy and show us another string to your bow with a bold move or 2 !

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Wallingford_Boy added 09:29 - Jun 17 Because we signed Adam Webster?! Think we are sorted in this department now.
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Radlett_blue added 09:46 - Jun 17 I'm still struggling with why we want a player who can't get in the Barnsley team. Digby also won't develop as a player by playing in our U-21s.
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12th_Man added 09:56 - Jun 17 How long till we see the headline Digby won't sign
3

deano85 added 10:14 - Jun 17 Surly no news, is good news on the transfer front... Maybe all our potential signings are currently too busy playing in the Euros to sign terms... :-D
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hoppy added 10:19 - Jun 17 His mum isn't too pleased about the delay and not knowing what's going on either... hope she's not on the phone to Mick like AMN's mum was...
11

Bergholtblue added 10:39 - Jun 17 Sign him now and we have to pay him all through the summer. Leave it a few weeks and save a bit.
2

RaymondovicBlue added 11:02 - Jun 17 Hoppy - no idea if Paul Digby's Mum will be involved ... but I LOVE your creativity in the cartoon! Thanks for brightening my day.
2

RaymondovicBlue added 11:03 - Jun 17 Deano85 ... talking of all our potential signings playing in the Euros - is it just me ... or did Johnny Williams look totally ordinary against a supposedly weak England defence?
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Wallingford_Boy added 11:39 - Jun 17 RaymondovicBlue - Just you! He was only on the pitch for 18 minutes and in that time put England under pressure more than anyone on their side.
7

BlueNomad added 12:07 - Jun 17 Contracts generally run until 30 June so it is a bit early to start on the "no ambition", "only freebies" mantra. It's particularly daft this year as we have already spent £750k!
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runaround added 12:16 - Jun 17 With the Webster signing, unless one of Berra, Smith or Chambers is leaving, I can't see that we would need Digby?
8

WhoisJimmyJuan added 12:37 - Jun 17 Agree with Pragmatic, far too soon to judge the situation. Interesting that Barnsley seem so anxious on this one. I would rather MM hedges his bets for now and looks at the whole market. Maybe MM is on holiday? Maybe ME is tied up with this UEFA matter? Could be any number of reasons.
2

rinkydinkpanther added 13:18 - Jun 17 Ah, come on Town! I really want to sign this bloke who couldn't get in the Barnsley team, nor could really get into our team once he got here. COME ON.
2

Popeye added 13:57 - Jun 17 MM is back at work on Monday apparently so hopefully we will see a bit more transfer action!
2

Wickets added 14:01 - Jun 17 My Mate who's got a mate who's next door but one's best friend reckons Berra has changed his mind about going back to not so bonny Scotland! So we don't need him any more.
2

brian_a_mul added 14:17 - Jun 17 Wickets, I am also of the opinion that signing Digby was dependent on the sale of Berra or Smith. Anyway: Berra is a top player at this level and we would be a weaker team without him.
2

cats_whiskers added 14:20 - Jun 17 On a more worrying note. Russia bans Durex condoms — says they need further testing. OMG https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/world/reason-russia-banned-durex-condoms/?
0

runningout added 15:21 - Jun 17 Didn't do a lot when here... We need midfield quality not half season wonders
2

jas0999 added 16:00 - Jun 17 Not convinced we need to look at signing Digby now we have bought a better player in Webster. Digby couldn't get a kick for a then struggling Barnsley and let's be honest, they didn't miss him ... On the contrary. For me, maximum effort should now be spent on the midfield. Build the team around Bishop. Reduce the number of defence minded players we have in the centre positions and buy that goal scoring central creative player that gets you an additional 6-8 points a season. Then money needs to be spent on wingers as we have no wide men, Digby for me would be a squad player signing at best and I'd personally like us to focus on the starting eleven.

4

wherescounago added 16:40 - Jun 17 They probably haven't heard from us because we don't need him, he still has a lot to learn to play at Championship level but I suppose he is better than Giles Coke!
1

phillo added 17:12 - Jun 17 Raymondovicblue - just you ...... one of their best players in first game (as said by most commentators & pundits) & - as others have said - came on & ran England around for 18 mins. No idea what you've been watching !!!
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rgp1 added 17:57 - Jun 17 @ run around one of chambers Smith or berra must be movin on. Surely we are not paying money for webster to get an arse full of splinters.
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blueboy1981 added 18:27 - Jun 17 As per the normal span of the last few seasons - let's leave any signings until the week before kick off, by which time all the decent freebies will have been snapped up. Sincerely hope not - but can see it happening again. Sure sign of ambition continuing to be mid table Championship. No more, no less.
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Ipswichbusiness added 19:25 - Jun 17 Smith and Berra are left side CBs Webster and Chambers right side CBs Why do we need Digby? If we require further back up, then use the youngsters. We need a good right-back and a couple of wingers and job done. I agree that Williams looked a bit ordinary against a good England side, but he would still do a fantastic job for us (fitness permitting)
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