Boss Roy Keane has confirmed that skipper Jon Walters has asked to leave the club with Stoke City his most likely destination - if they offer the Blues their valuation of the former Chester man. Walters, who missed Tuesday’s Carling Cup tie at Exeter with a virus, is also interesting another Premier League club.
Keane says £3 million-rated Walters spoke to him earlier in the summer asking to move on: "He said he is aware of the interest and he wants to go, he wanted ‘out of Ipswich’, they were his exact words.
"I tried to talk him out of it, not for too long, but then I said ‘you can go when the time’s right and the figure’s right’. And until that’s the case Jon will be here. He might be here for another year.
"But I know the clubs are talking and we’re getting closer. There are a couple of clubs interested in Jon.
"I would say Stoke are the favourites because Jon wants to get back towards that neck of the woods, like he did two years ago. He managed to get a new contract then. That won’t be happening again.”
Keane admits he is frustrated at the way the move has been handled by his captain, who he feels has had his head turned by those who might offer him top flight football: "He’s under contract here but we all live in the real world.
"Are players getting tapped up? Absolutely, 100%. Can I prove it? Obviously not, unless I get agents’ and managers’ phone bills. It’s the way of the world.
"Jon’s had his head turned and he’s told me in the last few weeks that he wants to go, and good luck to him.”
Keane says Walters remains his captain, for the time being at least: "He is today, but football changes on a daily basis.”
Walters, who has two years left on his Town contract, joined the Blues from Chester for a fee of £100,000 plus add-ons in January 2007 during Jim Magilton’s time as manager.