Mick McCarthy believes the interest Premier League clubs are showing in his players is another sign that the Blues are moving in the right direction. Tyrone Mings’s name in particular is rarely out of the papers with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United amongst the clubs believed to be eyeing the 21-year-old.
McCarthy’s pleased that top flight scouts are making regular visits to Portman Road to watch £10 million-rated left-back Mings amongst others: "Great, isn’t it? If we were rubbish there’d be nobody coming.
"I’m sure they’re looking at David McGoldrick, I’m sure they’re looking at Teddy Bishop and I’m sure they’re looking at Murph.
"It’s fantastic. There was nobody and his sister coming to watch us two years ago, so it’s great now, isn’t it? Happy days, let’s hope they keep coming.”
Regarding the speculation surrounding Mings, he said: "He’s on a [deal until June 2017], so good luck to them.”
Mings, a £3 million Crystal Palace target in the summer, is a level-headed character but McCarthy says one of the big boys making a significant bid for them would affect anyone, even himself.
"He’s great but if one of them came in and offered a bonkers amount of money, it’s going to turn his head, it does everybody,” he added.
"‘McCarthy said Ty will have his head turned’, you can put whatever you want on it, but I’m not saying that.
"If somebody comes in with an unbelievable amount of money, Chelsea, Man United, all them, my head would be turned if they came in for me. And I’m a damn sight older and wiser.”