Town manager Jim Magilton says Stoke are still to make any offer to the Blues for striker Jon Walters, despite weeks of speculation. Magilton has called on the Potters to firm up their interest if they are serious in wanting to sign the £3 million-rated 24-year-old.

The Blues boss said: "He is an Ipswich Town footballer on a three-year deal. We don't want to sell him, we want to keep him. If Stoke are showing serious intent in getting Jon then they should do something about it. If not, they should leave alone and let us get on with it.”

Walters, who was back training with the Blues yesterday, is widely rumoured to want a move to the North-West and to have asked for a transfer prior to being given two weeks' compassionate leave by the club while his wife gave birth to their second child.

Magilton, who has denied a newspaper claim of a bust-up between himself and Walters, says the Blues are not in a position where they are actively looking to sell their first team stars: "We have no reason to sell our best players. We want to move on to the next level and we see no reason why John can't help us do that.

"At the same time we don't want to stand in anyone's way. The club has a history of letting players go when it is the right time for the right sort of money.

”But at this moment in time it is silly talking about it because nothing has been done. People seem to be dealing through the press or allowing things to get as far as it has.”

Walters is set for some role in tonight's Carling Cup game against Leyton Orient, although having rarely been involved during pre-season training is likely to be on the bench.

The Town boss has also played down suggestions that David Nugent is close to a move to Portman Road: "David is a Portsmouth player and Portsmouth are trying to get rid of him. We have been linked because he is a goalscorer who is proven in the Championship. We know he will score at this level.”

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls