Boss Paul Jewell has revealed that out of contract central defender Tommy Smith will be offered a deal with the Blues and that he hopes to keep loanee Daryl Murphy at Portman Road next season. The Town manager says owner Marcus Evans has spoken to midfielder Grant Leadbitter as the Blues look to try to see off interest from the likes of Middlesbrough and Brighton.
Jewell says Evans, who is currently away on holiday, is talking to players’ representatives about new deals: "I know the owner’s spoken to Grant Leadbitter’s agent, I think he’s going to be speaking to Tommy Smith’s agent and he’s obviously had a chat with Jason Scotland, so things are moving on.”
Regarding Smith, Jewell says talks are under way but are at their early stages: "Tommy will be offered a deal. Marcus is away at the moment, but he’s speaking to his agent.”
The Blues boss says it’s no surprise that other clubs are sniffing around Leadbitter: "With someone like Grant Leadbitter, who has been excellent over the last few games since he came back into the side, there is going to be interest, and I understand that.
"But hopefully he’ll weigh things up and think that we’re going in the right direction. Again, that’s something that only Grant and his family can decide. This move for him is an important one, and hopefully he’ll stay here.”
Scotland signed a waiver regarding the clause in his current contract entitling him to a further season at his current wage last week and Jewell believes that shows the Trinidadian's intention to remain with the Blues: "He signed that waiver form and I know Marcus spoke to him a couple of weeks ago about next season and I think Jason has shown really good intentions by signing that waiver.
"I think he’s been terrific for us, his contribution on the pitch, as well as off it, has been really good. He’s a positive person, he’s a good player, he’s got that ability to come on and change the game for us.
"At times he’s been really good, not just when he’s started but when he’s come on as a substitute. He’s been a really good impact player for us.”
In addition to Leadbitter, Smith and Scotland, Jewell says he has also spoken to Daryl Murphy’s agent about the Irishman joining on a permanent basis in the summer.
But the Blues boss says that with the 29-year-old’s contract at Parkhead still having a year to run, that could depend on Celtic: "We couldn’t afford Daryl on the wages he’s on now. Celtic would have to help us. Whether they will do is their prerogative as he’s their player.
"I think Daryl wants to stay and I think he’d like a permanent deal here, and we’d like to keep him here, but wanting to do something and be able to do it financially are two different things.”
Jewell says he’s yet to speak to Ibrahima Sonko about new terms: "Sonks is out of contract. I haven’t spoken with Sonks.
"I will sit down with him and all the players whose contracts are up face to face in the next two or three weeks, maybe even before that, as it’s getting towards the end of the season. We have to make decisions and it’s a tough time.”
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