Town boss Paul Jewell says midfielder Jay Emmanuel-Thomas will be going absolutely nowhere this summer. The 21-year-old ex-Arsenal man’s form in the second half of the season has attracted the interest of Premier League clubs with scouts from Fulham and QPR regular visitors to Portman Road to catch him in action.
Jewell has received no enquiries regarding any of his players but even if he had, Emmanuel-Thomas would be going nowhere.
"I’ve received no interest at all,” he said. "I keep saying that I don’t think anyone’s got our phone number because no one ever rings me to ask about any of our players. But Jay’s not going anywhere. Absolutely not."
The Blues boss believes the Londoner has become a fans’ favourite as the season has progressed: "He’s always had ability, I think everyone knows that.
"When we first brought him here I could see the crowd were going to love him or hate him. He lumbers around the pitch but he’s taken to the role and I think Ipswich fans have taken to him.
"I think every time he gets the ball, we’re all guilty of it, he gets you off your seat and you think something’s going to happen, but it’s not always going to happen.
"He’s got into the situation where he realises he’s doesn’t have to do something special with the ball all the time.
"He’s maturing all the time, he’s only young and, as I’ve said, he needs to get fitter. Playing so many games at a high intensity has been a bit of a shock to him and I’m sure he knows what’s expected when he comes back for the first day next year.”
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