x

Town Would Consider Offers for Trio - Ipswich Town News

Boss Jim Magilton has reiterated that he will consider offers for central defender Alex Bruce if the club receives any interest in January, and has also not ruled out exits for club captain Richard Naylor and midfielder Tommy Miller, like Bruce out of contract next summer.

Town and Bruce's agent have been discussing a new deal since last summer, but as yet no agreement has been reached.

With no new terms in place, Bruce would be allowed to start talking to clubs about a summer free Bosman move in January, a situation Town would be keen to avoid, making move next month more likely.

Magilton says Bruce has nothing to prove to him but that offers will be considered with a central defensive addition expected when the transfer window opens: "If we do get any interest in Alex then we will think about it next month, the same as we would for any other player that we get enquiries about.

"The person we want to bring in next month is someone who would go straight into the first team and become a regular, which would allow improving young defenders like Pim Balkestein to go out on loan.”

Naylor and Miller are in the same position as Bruce and Magilton says he will also take seriously any offers the club receive for them.

Former Drogheda centre-half Graham Gartland looks like a strong possibility to come into the squad during January, while there could be a second new addition, particularly if both Bruce and Naylor depart, with youngster Tommy Smith still out of action with his broken ankle.

Various other defenders have been linked with the Blues in recent weeks, including Celtic's Darren O'Dea, West Brom's Carl Hoefkens and former Blue Hermann Hreidarsson, now with Portsmouth, but Town have denied the stories.

What to read next:

Akpom: I Always Had My Mind Set on Ipswich
Chuba Akpom has revealed he always wanted to sign for Town this summer despite nearly joining Championship rivals Birmingham City.
U18s at Palace
Town’s U18s face Crystal Palace at the Eagles’ training ground on Saturday afternoon (KO midday).
Ipswich Town v Sheffield United - Predictions
Have you predicted the Blades score yet? Seventy six per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win this evening, 14 per cent a draw and ten per cent an away win. The most commonly predicted result is a 2-1 win to Town with Hirst the first scorer but what do you think?
Gray in New Zealand Squad For U20 World Cup
Blues keeper Henry Gray has been named in the New Zealand squad for the U20 World Cup which gets under way in Chile later this month.
Akpom: Time to Kick On From Now
Town forward Chuba Akpom believes the Blues’ slow start to the season is not a cause for concern ahead of Friday’s match against Sheffield United at Portman Road.
Town Host Table-Propping Blades Targeting First Win
Town host bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United live on Sky on Friday evening looking to bring a number of unwanted records to an end (KO 8pm).
[Podcast] Life's a Pitch TV - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Life's a Pitch TV team is now available.
McKenna: I Can See the Thinking Behind Play-Off Expansion Proposal
Town manager Kieran McKenna says he can see the thinking behind the proposal to extend the Championship play-offs to six clubs.
McKenna: International Break Has Been Beneficial
Blues boss Kieran McKenna says the international break has been useful to help some of the recent signings settle in, however, with a number of regular starters away it wasn’t possible to do too much directly working towards Friday’s home game against Sheffield United.
McKenna: The Next Challenge is Building a Team Supporters Enjoy Watching and Are Proud Of
Town boss Kieran McKenna says the challenge is now to build a team that the club’s supporters can enjoy watching and be proud of following a “difficult” transfer window in which the squad underwent greater change than had been anticipated.