Town chief executive Simon Clegg says striker Connor Wickham will be an “integral part of the squad” next season and beyond, dismissing speculation that the Blues will cash in on the 17-year-old in the wake of his performances with England's victorious side at the European U17 Championships.

Clegg told the club site: "Connor signed a two-year contract towards the end of last season and he is committed to Ipswich Town and we are committed to him.

"There has been some wild speculation out there over the last few weeks as to what his value is, especially after his performances for England at the U17 European Championship.

"We can't stop the speculation but please don't believe everything you read in the newspapers.

"As I said, Connor has signed a two-year contract and we're excited about him being an integral part of the squad for next season and going forward."

Clegg says he expects Wickham, who is believed to have been the subject of a £5 million offer from Spurs, to be amongst Roy Keane’s first choice strikers next season: “Connor Wickham has enhanced his standing helping England to win the European U17 Championship and he can expect to have a regular place up front in the first team next season.”

Photo: Action Images

Gary added 10:46 - Jun 4 Go Connor!
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corshamblue added 10:50 - Jun 4 £7m and Loaned back for the Season is still tempting. . I recall the hype behind other 'potentials' - My Heart says don't sell at any cost and I'd also like to see a new contract later in the season for 3yrs. If he's Central to plans then pay him accordingly and extend that fragile 2yr contract. We simply need to be doing better and Connor may well be key to that, or Chopra?

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SMS added 11:02 - Jun 4 Totally agree. £7mill and a season loan back is very tempting when he only has a 2 year deal. If he tears it up next season will his value go up or down when he can walk a season later? More importantly WTF is Clegg telling the press who are first team players? Surely that's Roy decision not Clegg's.
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Greektractor added 11:03 - Jun 4 i think i might be right in thinking that 17-year-old players can only sign a maximum of 2 year contracts.
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timmy2guns added 11:09 - Jun 4 True to what some say above, and i agree about the dissapointment of previous 'potentials', but then im pretty convinced we got 'done' for Darren Bent. Wouldn't you like to have him in the Ipswich Squad now if we were to be promoted?
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Seasonticketsteve added 11:09 - Jun 4 You are right greektractor, hopefully if he performs well this season we can reward him with a longer one when he turns 18. We cant sell at any price, if we are building a team for the Premiership then Wickham is integral to those plans. Would be Keanes final act as manager as well if he does sell, think most fans would turn against him for that one or perhaps im wrong-it does happen!!!

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StokieBlue added 11:20 - Jun 4 Not sure what some of you are thinking. What is the point of a loan back? It just means ITFC are developing someone elses player and if he does get us promoted he goes back to his club even though we then would have had no need to sell him. Also, if he goes at 19 when his contract expires we would get quite a bit from the tribunal if he has played well for 2 years. SB.

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Hegarty added 11:45 - Jun 4 I agree with the above comment. It would be absoulte madness if we sold CW for 5 Million. Bear in mind that we would need to get a decent replacement for him and i'm guessing that Connors wages are fairly low at the moment. If we get in a proven striker then he would come with higher wages. So it wouldnt be a case of banking 5 million as alot of that, if not all, would go on the transfer fee and the inevitable higher wages! We already need one more striker and if Connor goes then we will need 2!

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:29 - Jun 4 Don't sell! We've been "done" far too often in the past. Now we don't have to jump to someone else's tune. Sometime, maybe, we will be "forced" to sell, but I hope that time is still a long way into the future. Connor is ITFC's biggest asset as our own home-produced young player NOT distracted by being back on loan from some greedy rich club. The longer he stays, the more he is ultimately likely to be worth. He is the future, OUR future, and trading him in now would send out the wrong signals. I hope and believe Connor is a lad with honour and commitment. Let's take it from there...

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Guthrum added 19:37 - Jun 4 Agree with StokieBlue. Sale and loan back makes absolutely no sense. It's not like the lad is sounding keen to be off, in any case. He wants to stay. We want him to stay. Clegg wants him to stay. Roy knows he'd be lynched if he sells (he said so). All sounds pretty much singing from the same hymn sheet to me!
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