Town boss Mick McCarthy hopes to continue his ongoing transfer discussions with owner Marcus Evans over the weekend when they take part in the Sir Bobby Robson Celebrity Golf Classic at the Pestana Vila Sol course in Portugal. The Blues are understood to be in talks with Blackburn Rovers regarding the signing of winger Elliott Bennett and are also targeting Premier League loanees.
McCarthy and Evans are both regular participants in the tournament, which legendary Blues boss Robson instigated in 2004 to raise money for a homeless children’s charity, the Refugio Aboim Ascensão, which is based in Faro.
Also amongst those taking part will be Charlie Woods, Simon Milton, Terry Butcher, Russell Osman, Alan Brazil, John Wark and George Burley.
"I don’t know how much time we’ll get to spend together, but I hope to get a chat with him,” McCarthy said.
The Town manager, whose priority is adding wingers to his squad, says he and Evans maintain an open line of communication during the summer, regularly discussing the club's transfer business.
"Absolutely,” he added. "We’re kind of waiting on a number of different things that we’re trying to do. Players that we’re trying to bring in. We’ll just have to wait and see.
"But Cameron Stewart’s doing really well playing wide left and I think Bish has been excellent on the right, so we have got players who can play there.”
Town and Blackburn are understood to be discussing the terms of Bennett moving to Portman Road with the Ewood Park club keen to recoup the reported £250,000 they paid Norwich for the 27-year-old in January.
Quizzed on links with Bennett on Wednesday night, McCarthy wouldn't confirm or deny his interest, although admitted that the former Brighton and Norwich wideman is a player he likes.
With no friendly on Saturday, McCarthy is giving his squad a break: "Over the weekend [they’ll be having some time off] and then we’re back in on Monday to prepare for the Colchester game [on Wednesday] and then that’ll be us all the way through then.”
He says players will start to get more than just 45 minutes from the Colchester game onwards.
"Quite clearly it’s just been two mixed-up teams with some youngsters and some experience so far, but it might be getting to where they’re getting 60 minutes, then others will get 60 or 70 minutes at Cambridge.”
Striker Daryl Murphy returned to pre-season training on Tuesday having been given additional time off having been away with the Republic of Ireland at the Euros and McCarthy says the 33-year-old won't be involved in a game until next weekend.
"It’ll be Cambridge on Saturday that we’ll be looking at," he said. "Adam Webster has every chance of playing some part against Cambridge as well, that’s great.”
Meanwhile, former Blues striker Paul Taylor, 28, has rejoined his former club Peterborough United, having failed to find a club during 2015/16 following his release by Town during the previous season.