Town boss Mick McCarthy says yesterday’s Scottish report claiming Blues central defender Christophe Berra could leave Portman Road and rejoin his old club Hearts this month is “just ridiculous”.
It was reported that Berra, 31, was in the process of negotiating a settlement of the final six months of his contract with the Blues and would subsequently be set for a return to Tynecastle, but McCarthy dismissed the claim out of hand.
"That is just ridiculous,” he said. "Have you seen how many players we’ve had recently, the squad and the substitutes we’ve had? And I would be settling up Christophe Berra’s contract, who has played every single game? I don’t think so.
"How ridiculous that rumour is. There are rumours that might be close to the truth, but that’s as far away from the truth as you can get. It’s nuts.”
Asked about Berra potentially going back to Scotland, he joked: "He’s not heading back now, he’s got eight weeks off in the summer, he can do what he wants then!
"We’ve got an option on him to sign him. We’re talking again about options, he’s our player for the next 18 months if that’s what we want to do.
"I can’t see any reason why I wouldn’t want to keep Christophe Berra, he’s been different class, he’s arguably been our best defender for the last four years.
"He’s certainly been one of the top ones and has consistently played. He’s staying here as far as I’m concerned.”
Having signed Kieffer Moore from Forest Green Rovers on Saturday, McCarthy says he’s no nearer making a further addition to his squad.
"No, and nothing could be done between now and tomorrow which could affect tomorrow’s game anyway, so it would be for the weekend,” he added. "We’re still trying and still getting negatives at the moment.”