Boss Mick McCarthy says he still expects the media to be asking him questions about Aaron Cresswell’s future during the January transfer window, despite the 23-year-old signing a new contract until June 2017 on Wednesday.
West Brom, Fulham and Southampton are amongst a number of Premier League clubs to have regularly sent scouts to Portman Road this season to keep an eye on the former Tranmere defender.
"It’ll still be the same when it comes round to the transfer window, everybody will still be asking me whether he’s staying or not if one little article in a paper says that he’s going,” McCarthy said.
"But he’s got a good contract, he’s happy here, we’re delighted with him and I think his two-game break has been a great help to him because he’s been outstanding since coming back.
"I love Tyrone Mings, but I think it’s just showed the quality of Cressy since he’s come back. He was outstanding at Charlton and in the other games since coming back, he’s been terrific.”
The Town boss says the two-year extension to Cresswell’s contract was in part to reward him for his performances and also to ward off interest from elsewhere, but he warns that an offer could still come in which could be good for all parties.
"If it’s the right deal, for him and for the club,” he said. "Suppose Everton sold Leighton Baines and they came in here and offered £8 million for Cressy, who is a Scouser and he wants to go back.
"What do you do? Do you stop progress when it’s a proper deal and a good deal for everybody concerned? You just get resentment and you get a player that’s not happy and it just messes it up anyway. Everybody’s for sale all around the world when they’re spending £100 million-odd on Gareth Bale.
"But it’s a great deal for him and for us. It protects us, he’s not going to be leaving on a Bosman and if he ever does leave somebody will have to pay the right chunk of money.”
He added: "He’s happy, the nicest thing for me is that Cressy wants to sign a new contract to stay here and play his football here.
"Who knows, we might get in the play-offs, we might be pushing for that promotion spot. That would be the ideal thing.
"We’ve had three wins on the bounce, we could lose three on the bounce as well, that’s what this league is like.
"If somebody comes along and it’s the right deal for everybody, it’s very hard to stop that progress.”
Legendary Blues left-back Mick Mills was impressed with Cresswell’s performance against Huddersfield and the Town manager says he’s in no position to disagree with the former skipper: "I think he’s better placed to judge left-backs than I am, having played there and been one of the best.
"I’d agree with him, I thought he was. And he was at Charlton as well. Since he came back he’s been terrific.”
McCarthy says Cresswell may have suffered during the club’s struggles prior to him taking over as boss 13 months ago: "I inherited a job that was down on its hunkers because you generally do. Very rarely do you get one which is flying because managers who are flying don’t leave.
"I think that had affected him, to be honest. I think just the fact that we’ve had some good results and an upturn in form and fortune at the club, it’s affected everybody, they’re all feeling a bit better about it.
"But Cressy was well recognised as a good player because we’d looked at him when I was at Wolves, we’d scouted him.
"He’s just blossomed, he’s got better and better. I can’t give him any higher praise, I think he’s the best left-back in the league, I haven’t seen one that comes close to him yet.”
The Town boss, who says no discussions are currently ongoing with any other members of the squad, says that with Financial Fair Play kicking in, the market has changed at Championship level since the Blues were losing the likes of David Norris, Gareth McAuley and Grant Leadbitter on Bosman free transfers prior to his time in charge.
"I think they were looking for a fair old sizeable chunk of dough,” he said. "The contracts were somewhat different to what they are now.
"Premier League contracts are still soaring through the roof, Championship contracts have settled down and are more affordable.
"But he wasn’t coming up towards a Bosman anyway. I think it’s just nice that he wants the security of his contract and he’s enjoying playing.”