Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that the Blues will be taking up the options to keep skipper Luke Chambers and fellow centre-half Christophe Berra for a further season.

The duo's contracts were due to end this summer but with the club having an option to extend those terms for a further season which must be taken up by May 1st.

Chambers was the subject of interest from his former club Nottingham Forest in January, while Berra has been repeatedly linked with one of his previous clubs, Hearts, along with Rangers.

“Their options will be exercised and then we can deal with it afterwards,” McCarthy said.

“Whether there’s any negotiation over and beyond that one-year option, that’s for them and their agents to talk to Marcus about.”

Has he had a chance to talk to them to find out whether they would like to stay? “Chambo, of course [he would], but Christophe, it’s been well publicised that he has a commitment up in Edinburgh with his daughter and he’d like to be there. But we’ve an option on him.

“That’s not the easiest thing just to do because he’s been a really fantastic player for us, he’s been a stalwart.

“Whenever he’s been fit, he’s played, pretty much. So I’ll leave that with Marcus. Of course, I’ve spoken to them.”

McCarthy says he’s yet to hold his main discussion with owner Marcus Evans regarding the budget and plans for next season, although we understand the pair met over the weekend.

“We’ve only been talking around it at the moment and I’ll sit down with him after the Forest game and discuss it then,” he added.

Photo: TWTD

ianmarshall10 added 14:15 - Apr 27 Very happy with this 👍🏻
12

Radlett_blue added 14:15 - Apr 27 Well, at least a decision (of sorts) has been reached, which is better than letting 2 decent servants go on frees. However, I guess this is more a holding action so that we can demand a fee if the new owner/manager doesn't fancy either player. Berra could, of course, have his contract cancelled by mutual agreement in the summer.
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BoxerBlue added 14:16 - Apr 27 Great news
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TR11BLU added 14:19 - Apr 27 Really, so much for the new team next season. Berra not good enough/heart not in it. Would keep chambers DINO Out
-5

Lightningboy added 14:19 - Apr 27 Good news - as long as Chambers is played in the centre alongside Berra. I cannot go through another game let alone season with our muppet of a manager playing people out of position.
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12th_Man added 14:23 - Apr 27 Great news but still some town fans are moaning
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carsey added 14:24 - Apr 27 For me a yes to Chambers but Berra doesn't want to be here and is too slow and should be behind Smithy and Webster in the pecking order. I suppose this means McCarthy will play him as first choice.
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hoppy added 14:36 - Apr 27 Makes sense to take up the options before the deadline on both. I fully expect we'll still see Berra leaving this summer though, and Chambers probably, given a one-year extension beyond this 1-year option.
1

cat added 14:36 - Apr 27 Oh dear, not good, if these two stay then it's definately another season of "hoofball & favourites", not ideal for someone like myself who's philosophy of the game is pure football and entertainment. :(😭:(
1

hampstead_blue added 14:42 - Apr 27 at the least we will get something of a fee for whomever leaves
3

Cookycrew added 14:44 - Apr 27 Makes perfect sense. Chambers at centre-half position ONLY please - Top Captain. Berra - still an excellent C/Half & we would seriously miss him if he departed (I'm also not sure either Tommy (due to his recent back injury) or Adam Webster (still learning) are fully up to the task in filling Berra' boots as yet.
6

rickw added 14:45 - Apr 27 Hopefully this just means we can get a little money for Berra
3

StowTractorBoy added 14:52 - Apr 27 Cannot understand the negative comments re Berra as the bloke has been a battering ram for us over the last couple of seasons. Yes he may be a no nonsense defender but its what you need in the Championship. I'm not so sure about Tommy Smith as he should be better than he is at this sage of his career. A great Clubman and servant though.
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essextractorboy93 added 14:54 - Apr 27 Great news! Chambers and Berra have been hugely important in the last few years for us. There has always been the speculation about Berra leaving to go back to Scotland but he has been a constant in the side for the last three years.
6

ArnieM added 14:58 - Apr 27 I think Chambo will stay and negotiate a better deal than the 1 yr option. Berra, I simply can't see that he would stay. He has name it clear he wants to leave so Town exercising their option is pointless. Why keep an unsettled player. I would team up Chambers and Webster. Smith, great Club that he is, is fairly one dimensional and as others have stated is not the way forward and maybe has reached his potential, but that level can be bettered by perhaps a new addition.

3

iaintaylorx added 15:03 - Apr 27 Good news. Experience will play a big part in next season, but I would rather see Webster and Smith in the middle of a back three with Chambers, then Kenlock and Emmanuel as the wing backs. I still feel we need to sign another centre back as Berra is off the pace now, but I'm happy with him staying!
0

Michael11 added 15:08 - Apr 27 I personally think it's daft to keep Berra if he's unhappy. Contradicts everything he's said about accepting a bid for Murphy because he wanted to go. We have Chambers, Smith, Webster and Taylor (as back up) so we'd be fine without him. Plus, he's declining in performance by the week!
0

sixtyblue added 15:18 - Apr 27 Badly missed Webster Berra not up to pace this year.Spends most time hoofing clearances into the stands.The defence has Proved to be notupto scratch this season,one only has to look at number of goals conceded.Big changes needed up front with not enough chances being converted,which will then leave the defence exposed again.Anothe quality midfielder required as present players not up to scratch and new midfield coach needed as present staff not good enough.

1

cat added 15:27 - Apr 27 TR11BLU - My sincere apologises for marking you down, mistake on my part, I certainly do not want to be associated with the illustrious posters who love the down arrows!!
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carsey added 15:37 - Apr 27 I fully accept football is a game of opinions and others may disagree but Berra has been a liability all season and last season for me he was the weak link alongside Smithy when all and sundry were saying we shouldn't be playing two left foot centre backs together. Who was played on the right and learnt to use his right foot? Not Berra, the senior pro took the easy option and stayed on his correct side. The other thing that worries me about him is his apparent need to hold onto the opposition players in the box. How he has managed to not give away penalties is beyond me unless you accept the standard of refereeing is that poor. He is much slower now and is constantly caught out by quicker players running beyond him. When he came here he was excellent and just what the club needed but as with all players he is now that much older and therefore not the future. Coupled with the fact he wants to be closer to his young daughter he ought to be moving on.

2

Dalty added 15:42 - Apr 27 sixtyblue - We've got the 8th best defensive record in the division, the number of goals we concede is far from our biggest concern right now.
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ArnieM added 15:55 - Apr 27 Both Berra and Smith are "hoofers" of the ball. Limited. Webster Chambers and another CB coming in or Taylor getting fit ( hes5 been given this summer to prove his fitness ). Webster......Taylor........Chambers
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cat added 15:57 - Apr 27 Dalty- playing 7 at the back and Bart in goal I would expect our record to be the best!!! Love the St George's by the way.....
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bluey123 added 15:57 - Apr 27 Haven't any of you watched Ipswich this season if Chambers stays where does Webster play and Smith ten times better than Berra he has been poor this season McCarthy out
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Pilgrimblue added 16:21 - Apr 27 Agreed Carsey. Apart from being so slow and holding more often, Berra has no confidence on the ball even when he should have time. For me Chambers must play central with Webster on his right. Smith needs competition for left side but may make it his if he ups his game
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