West Brom continue to be linked with Town left-back Aaron Cresswell in the Midlands press. The Baggies, who recently appointed Alan Irvine as their manager, were amongst the clubs to watch the 24-year-old on a regular basis during 2013/14.
According to the Birmingham Mail Cresswell is one of the Baggies’ major summer targets and they are "ready to test Ipswich’s resolve during the coming weeks” as they look to strengthen both full-back positions.
While Albion had been keeping an eye on Cresswell and were watching him prior to his summer of 2011 move to Town, it had been understood that their interest had cooled and that they are now looking elsewhere for additions with Fulham’s Kieran Richardson and Norwich’s Martin Olsson also recently linked.
Earlier in the summer Southampton, who last week sold 18-year-old England left-back Luke Shaw to Manchester United, were believed to be the most interested of the numerous Premier League sides who had kept tabs on Cresswell. However, that situation may have changed with Ronald Koeman having taken over as manager following Mauricio Pochettino’s departure for Spurs.
If Cresswell, who is contracted to Town until the summer of 2017, were to move on this summer his former club Tranmere Rovers would be entitled to 20 per cent of the profit the Blues would make on the £420,000 they paid for him.
A Football League tribunal set a compensation figure of an initial £240,000 plus milestone clauses, with only a £100,000 payment on promotion to the Premier League not triggered.
With Town adhering strictly to the Financial Fair Play rules, McCarthy is unlikely to have much of a transfer war chest at his disposal unless a current player is sold for a significant fee.
The Blues boss is set to speak to the press prior to the start of pre-season training proper at Playford Road this morning.
Elsewhere, former Town skipper Terry Butcher is reported to be amongst the candidates keen on taking over as head coach of Tommy Smith's New Zealand, following his recent departure from Hibs.