x

McCarthy: Fees a "Possibility" - Ipswich Town News

Boss Mick McCarthy says Town paying fees is a “possibility” as he looks to add to his squad ahead of the start of the season.

The Blues’ only additions so far this summer are central defender Adam Webster, who joined from Portsmouth for £700,000 plus Matt Clarke, and fellow centre-half Paul Digby, who signed on a permanent basis from Town’s opening day opponents Barnsley following his loan at the end of 2015/16.

"We’re still trying, hopefully I’m going to get them in before the season starts,” McCarthy said.

Asked whether there is money available for fees or if all deals will be free transfers or loans, he added: "That’s another possibility, if it’s the right players, the right deal.”

Looking back at the weeks since the players returned from their summer break at the end of June, McCarthy says he’s pleased to have virtually a fully fit squad, a couple of minor niggles aside.

"I tell you every pre-season, it’s about getting everybody through and fit, and we’ve just about done that,” he said.

"We’ve got Pits that’s got a sore toe, Luke Hyam’s got a sore knee, other than that we’re all right.

"Bish has got through it and Murph and Didz, so we’re getting to August 6th, hopefully, with a fully fit squad.

"I think our games have been decent. I watched Wimbledon against Palace last night and I thought that had a really slow tempo to it.

"And I think we’ve played some decent stuff. I thought against Charlton the other night we played well but we just couldn’t score. Brett hit the cross-bar twice, Chambo had two chances so we’ve changed his contact lenses since then.

"I thought we played well, I was pleased with that performance and Bart never really had anything to do.”

He says Town didn’t create as many opportunities in all their friendlies: "We haven’t created that many chances, although I thought we did against Charlton.

"It’s up to us to create them, perhaps we didn’t have Murph in the team a couple of times or we didn’t put enough crosses in.

"At Barnet we lost to a penalty and that was a bit of a nothing game. We were just getting there.

"Cambridge, I thought we had enough chances to win that and gave away a really bad goal at the end, which infuriated me as anybody who saw me afterwards would have known.

"And I thought at Charlton we played well and created chances, we just didn’t score them.”

What to read next:

TWTD Questionnaire 2024/25
There’s still time for you to fill in the annual TWTD Questionnaire, your chance to look back in judgement on Town's 2024/25 season
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Six Released as Town Women Announce Retained List
Ipswich Town Women have announced their retained list following the 2024/25 season in which they won the FAWNL Southern Premier League title and promotion to the second tier, now known as the WSL2, for the first time with six senior players released.
Ex-Town Loanee Andrews Now Strong Favourite For Brentford Job
Former Blues loanee Keith Andrews is now an odds-on favourite with all bookies offering prices on the Brentford job, Town boss Kieran McKenna having drifted out overnight.
Hutchinson Focused on Euros
Blues forward Omari Hutchinson insists his focus is on winning the European Championship with England’s U21s rather than his future at club level.
McKenna Some Bookies' Favourite For Brentford Job
Town boss Kieran McKenna is some bookies’ early favourite for the vacant Brentford job following confirmation that Thomas Frank has taken charge at Tottenham Hotspur, but with little real clarity on who the Bees’ next head coach might be.
Hutchinson's England U21s Win Euros Opener
Blues forward Omari Hutchinson helped England’s U21s to a 3-1 victory over Czechia in their opening group game at the European Championship in Slovakia.
Valencia Linked With Burgess
La Liga Valencia are showing interest in Town centre-half Cameron Burgess, according to Spanish reports.
Hutchinson's England U21s' Euros Campaign Starts Against Czechs
Town forward Omari Hutchinson and his England U21s teammates get their European Championship campaign under way when they face Czechia in Dunajská Streda, Slovakia this evening (KO 8pm, Channel 4).
Town Fans Take Total Raised For Food Bank to £20,000
Town supporters donated more than £6,000 to Ipswich Town Fans Supporting Foodbanks in 2024/25, taking the overall total raised since the group began their monthly matchday collections in January 2023 to £20,000.