Town boss Mick McCarthy says defender Matt Clarke will join Portsmouth on loan before the start of the season, once he has cover in place at Portman Road.
The 18-year-old centre-half has played two pre-season friendlies for the League Two side, scoring the second goal in last night’s 2-0 victory at Woking.
"He’ll be going on loan when I’m ready to do it,” McCarthy said. "I need to make sure I’m OK first. He’ll probably be there before the season starts, certainly for the first game of the season.
"They’re delighted with him and I really want him to get some football because he’s a great kid and he’s a good player and he needs to play at a professional level. So he will go, but I just need to try and make sure I’m covered.”
McCarthy wouldn’t be drawn on whether there were any developments regarding additions to his squad - "No, and I wouldn’t tell you if there was!” - and specifically his reported interest in former Leeds midfielder Rodolph Austin.
"I think you’ll find he’s playing in the final of the Gold Cup on Sunday [for Jamaica], so unless he decides not to go and play in that one and come here, then he won’t be coming here!,” he joked.
Regarding 18-year-old Valenciennes frontman Andy Faustin, who was linked with a trial with the Blues by the French press, he added: "If anybody turns up, you’ll see them when they come here, you know the score!”
As for Darren Ambrose, who is training with the club as he looks to win a new deal, McCarthy says he's yet to make a decision.
"I just want to make sure to be fair to him because he’s not been fit," the Town boss said.
"He got 30 minutes in a team playing up front, which isn’t really his slot. We’ll see. Still working on it.”
Meanwhile, Everton left-back Luke Garbutt has joined Fulham on a season-long loan having been linked with the Blues amongst a several other Championship clubs.