x

McCarthy Wants Permanent DJ Deal - Ipswich Town News

Blues boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that he is interested in signing striker DJ Campbell on a permanent basis in January. Yesterday, the frontman, who is on loan from QPR until January 5th, said he would be interested in joining Town full-time but not extending his loan.

McCarthy said: "DJ on a permanent deal? Yes, of course. But he’s QPR’s player. I go against what I normally believe in talking about other people’s players, but DJ’s said it — he doesn’t want to come back on loan. So, if that’s the case...

"I would have been interested in him anyway, he’s done very well,” he added.

The Town manager admits that Mark Hughes’s sacking by the Premier League’s bottom club this morning won’t make doing a deal for the 31-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, any simpler: "It’s complicated. You don’t know who might take charge of them, they might look to bring him back himself.”

In terms of targets ahead of yesterday’s deadline, McCarthy says he asked about Richie Wellens but he felt Leicester wanted to keep him: "I don’t think Leicester wanted to let him out, I didn’t get a definitive [answer], whether it was about him wanting to come or them letting him out.

"They need their squad and I think they looked at Richie and thought he could be playing in their first team, he’s good enough, but they’re doing well at the minute, as we’ve seen.”

He says no other deals came close to being completed: "No, we couldn’t take any more loans.”

In terms of players going out, there was interest in Jason Scotland but it came to nothing: "A few asked about him, he’s still here training with us this morning and he’s in the squad for tomorrow.”

What to read next:

Hull City v Ipswich Town - Predictions
Have you predicted the Hull score yet? Sixty per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win this evening, 27 per cent a draw and 13 per cent predicting a home win, but what do you think?
Leeds Thrashed at QPR
The battle for promotion at the top of the Championship took another dramatic turn this evening when Leeds United were thrashed 4-0 at QPR, a result which confirms Leicester City’s promotion to the Premier League and puts the Blues in the box seat for the second automatic spot.
Gilmartin to Continue Interim Irish Role
Town’s head of goalkeeping Rene Gilmartin will continue his role on Republic of Ireland interim head coach John O’Shea’s staff for the June internationals, the FAI has announced.
Season Tickets Sell Out
Town have announced that season tickets for the 2024/25 season have sold out through existing renewals, meaning no new fans will become season ticket holders for the campaign ahead.
U18s Host Blades
Town’s U18s are in Professional Development League Two South action at home to Sheffield United on Saturday morning (KO 11.30pm).
Rosenior: Our Cup Final
Hull City boss Liam Rosenior insists the Tigers’ home game against Town, a match which he describes as his team’s cup final, kicking off at 8pm on Saturday is an advantage in the race for the final play-off places.
Life's a Pitch TV - Episode 38 - Ray Crawford
This week’s Life’s a Pitch TV with star guest Ray Crawford is now available on YouTube.
Moore: To Be in This Situation With Three Games to Go is Unbelievable
Kieffer Moore is excited about the next nine days that will see Town travel to Hull and Coventry in search of precious points before the season ends on Saturday week with Huddersfield the visitors on a day that could, depending on what happens between now and then, see the Blues hosting a second successive Portman Road promotion party.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
McKenna: We Have Big Confidence in Ourselves
Town boss Kieran McKenna says his team have “big confidence” in themselves going into Saturday evening’s visit to Hull City, the first of three games which will decide whether the Blues win automatic promotion back to the Premier League after 22 years away (KO 8pm).