Blues boss Mick McCarthy has told Stephen Hunt that he’d like him to stay at Portman Road beyond his current short-term deal, which is up in January. The 32-year-old joined Town early last month on a play-to-be-paid deal following his release by Wolves in the summer.
While no formal discussions have yet taken place regarding a longer term contract, McCarthy says he has spoken to the winger.
"Hunty’s great. I’ve told him I’d like him to stay,” he said. "He’s loving it here and we’re all enjoying having him here, so we’ll see.”
The Town boss believes Hunt, who has made one start and three sub appearances for the Blues, would like to remain at Portman Road, all things being equal.
"Hunty would love to stay if the circumstances are right,” he said. "Let me tell you, he’s done exactly the right thing. Not too many people have the nuts to do it, to come and sign for nothing, pay as you play.
"As I said to him at the time, if you play, if you get in the team, you’re in the shop window again, people see you.
"So, it might be that it's somebody else that takes him, they might offer him more dough, might offer him a better set of terms and conditions in a different area where he lives, I don’t know.
"But he knows he’s loved here, by me, by TC, by the lads and he would like to stay, but it’s not as easy as that.”
Meanwhile, Derby striker Conor Sammon, linked with the Blues in the Irish press earlier in the week, says he's happy with the Rams, despite currently being out of the starting XI: "I'm 100 per cent focused at Derby.
"I'm really enjoying it and the way we've been playing recently, it's been great to be a part of.
"I know it's a squad game. I'd love to be playing more but it's up to me to train hard and work hard and try to force my way in.
"That's definitely where my mind is and that's my ambition from now until the end of the season.
"I'm really happy at Derby and I'm enjoying challenging for my place in the team."