Blues boss Mick McCarthy says he’s in no hurry to add to his squad during the January window, believing that it would be difficult to recruit players better than those already at Portman Road.
"I’m not that bothered, I’m not desperately seeking any others,” McCarthy said. "The reason for that is where am I going get them that are better than the players I’ve got?
"There’s always that age old problem of getting players to come in on loan. If I can get better than I’ve got in on loan, they want to come and play in the team straight away. I’d be doing very well if I could do better than what I’ve got on loan, that’s for sure.
"And then do I start signing players [on a permanent basis]? I’m not going to do that, we’re not going to be going out and buying anybody.
"I’m not fussed, we’ve got the loans that we can take and I’m cool with what we’ve got. And it might have the adverse effect, bringing them in.”
He added: "Unless, and the players are the same as I am, if we could get somebody that would strengthen the squad, enhance our chances of being in the same position at the end of the season as we are now, all the players would take that. But that’s that fine balancing act.
"And do you know, I don’t know if they’re available. It’s a shitty old window anyway, the January window. You tell me how many really good bits of business people do.”
He says there is a tendency to make panic signings, particularly at Premier League level where emergency loans aren’t available outside the window.
"We’ve got until March in which we can take a loan deal to supplement the squad in case we get an injury,” McCarthy continued.
"I think that month, more so for Premier League clubs because they can’t do anything when it’s shut, it does make you go out and panic and feel you’ve got to get something in and the reality is that I don’t know how many of those deals make such a big difference.
"If we can get somebody, of course we will. We’re looking but we haven’t got any plates spinning that are going to fall on my head immediately.”
He says that in any case there are positive aspects to having a smaller squad: "There is nothing worse than sulky-faced players who aren’t playing, nothing worse at all. And those that do that only let their team-mates down anyway.
"There is an advantage to having the guts of the squad involved every week. There are 18 in the squad, there might only be a couple sat in the stand. At least if gives them a chance of being involved.
"If you’ve got four or five disenchanted and they’re staying here and having to train with the U21 squad, that’s not great.”
In terms of possible exits, McCarthy said: "They’re all under contract, long-term contracts, all of them. I cannot stop bids at all. I can’t stop interest. I’m delighted there’s interest.
"Funnily enough two years ago sat here nobody cared about any of us, they didn’t even know where Ipswich was or what they were doing, ‘They’re struggling, it’s in Holland somewhere, isn’t it?’.
"Now, of course, we’ve got all this interest and I’m supposed to get upset and worried about it. Not in the slightest.”
He reiterated that owner Marcus Evans illustrated his willingness to turn down bids in the summer.
"I’m sure Marcus is enjoying it more this year than he was last year and the year before because I certainly am, we all are. Everybody is," he continued.
"I said on Friday, that’s the support that I want when somebody comes knocking. And I said if somebody comes in and upsets them with a bid then it’s up to me to deal with it and upset them for a second time and tell them ‘no’.”