Town boss Mick McCarthy wished striker Daryl Murphy all the best at Newcastle United after confirming that the Blues had accepted an offer from the Magpies for the Irish international striker. We understand the fee to be £3 million with no add-ons.
"He’s gone to Newcastle,” McCarthy confirmed, who revealed the final decisions regarding the striker’s exit were taken this morning with the 33-year-old pencilled in to start today’s 1-0 victory against Preston.
"He’s told me he wants to go, he’s put a transfer request in and it’s always my view that you’re either inside the tent peeing out or outside the tent peeing in.
"He has to leave, so we’ve got other players and we’ll get other players in. It’s a great move for him, I think.
"Good luck to him, he’s been terrific for me but I think it’s one of those deals which can’t really be stopped. Good luck to him.
"It’s good business for the club, bearing in mind the performances, the goals we’ve had out of him. It is and we’ll reinvest that.”
McCarthy dismissed suggestions he was disappointed that Murphy requested the move: "Not really, no. It kind of makes it easier for me. If it’s me that’s stopping him and I stop a 33-year-old going to play for Newcastle who arguably are going to be top of the league, I think he’d resent that for the rest of my life.
"And if I was him I’d do the same. So I have a very pragmatic view on that. I’d prefer to let him go, he’s asked for a move, go and do well for them and I hope he does and continues to do well for Ireland and we’ll reinvest.
"And by the way get somebody else because I seem to remember when I came here there was a bit of apathy towards him. When I re-signed him I can’t remember everybody dancing up and down the streets with their knickers in the air.
"So I put my arm round him, I signed him at Sunderland, TC got to work with him and I think he’s improved unbelievably and he’s a real force to be reckoned with now.
"We’ll do it again, so let’s see if we can find somebody else and do it again with a younger version. Good luck to Murph.”
McCarthy says he has targets in mind and that the wheels are in motion regarding the signing of a replacement before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Wednesday with the club constantly looking at contingencies for potential departures.
"There’s always discussions between Marcus and I about who we would like to sign,” he added.
He says he has given Blues owner Evans a list of his pre-deadline targets: "Email’s a wonderful thing. I’m not a Luddite.”
Meanwhile, McCarthy said claims that Crystal Palace wideman Sullay Kaikai was at Portman Road were news to him: "If he’s here at the game he must enjoy watching us because that’s the first I’ve heard.”