Town boss Roy Keane has refused to comment on speculation that the Blues are amongst a number of clubs eyeing Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper. Fellow Championship sides QPR and Derby and League One Leeds have also been linked, while Premier League clubs Wolves and Hull are reported to have watched the former Grays man in recent weeks.

Keane says that if he is interested in a player, he talks to the club involved before making any comment to the media: “I’m aware of the situation in the same way as I’m aware of any striker who is doing well, but if we were to do anything with any club or any player, the first thing I would do is pick up the phone to their manager or get our chief executive to ring their people.”

Meanwhile, Derby boss Nigel Clough has confirmed that he would be interested in the Iron frontman: "He is a player who has done well against us.

"It might be that we get priced out of it, I don't know, but if he is one we identify as a definite target then we would hope to be in there bidding.

"If Premiership clubs come in, there is no competition really, but if it is clubs from the Championship I would hope that if we decide to go for him we would be in with a chance."

The Blues boss says he will again be without David Healy (knee) and Carlos Edwards (recovering from chicken pox) when Town travel to Newcastle on Saturday. Damien Delaney is out for the season with the ankle ligament injury he sustained at Nottingham Forest.

Photo: Action Images

Vic added 12:07 - Apr 22 It's the right and sensible approach, as we've come to expect lately from our manager.
0

Billy_Whizz added 12:14 - Apr 22 Yeah - that and we got our fingers burnt this past year by openly admitting interest in players that led to inflated prices and other interest!
0

BOjK added 12:29 - Apr 22 @Billy_Whizz We haven't openly admitted interest in any players this last 12 months.
0

Billy_Whizz added 12:32 - Apr 22 So it must be all the paper talk and rumours that's bitten us in the bum then!
0

jditfc added 12:35 - Apr 22 i agree with Billy Whizz
0

tractorgirl2 added 13:02 - Apr 22 hear with go again hull intrested in any one we are, fingers cross we can get him but it looks like the race is hotting up
0

Tractorog added 13:07 - Apr 22 Unfortunately the players agent a certain Dr Evil has been uncontactable... he has been trying to clean his secret volcano lair but the dust has just got everywhere.
0

Tractorog added 13:10 - Apr 22 Shall we run a sweepstake for the number of times TWTD will start a story with the line "Town have been linked with" over the summer... my vote is 45
0

Redmond added 13:14 - Apr 22 I think he would do wonders up front with chopra if we can sign them both
0

dirtydingusmagee added 13:14 - Apr 22 making no comment..dont tell em ya name Pike, springs to mind tho',
0

GeorgiDoundarov added 13:31 - Apr 22 This is the right approach from a manager point of view on any gossip. If this is a rumour only there is nothing to comment and if this is a real target it is wise not to point your finger and attract other bidders who may blow your deal. So Keano is doing better than Jim on this for sure:) I remember how silly Jim looked when he was saying several times he is on the vigre of getting Nugent and every time he was declining...

0

Superfrans added 14:14 - Apr 22 It'll all be inflated by Hooper's agent. We can't sign anyone until after the season ends in any case. When is the transfer window open again? June 1?
0

Cardinals added 14:26 - Apr 22 Superfranz: The transfer window opens on 1st July. Deals can be agreed prior to this date, but the transfer will not be officially completed until the 1st July. Football Manager:- An education in its own right.
0

PaulMariner added 14:54 - Apr 22 That's a first, keane keeping quiet. Cant believe he gets praise on here for doing the bleeding obvious!
0

rockstar1981 added 17:24 - Apr 22 @PaulMariner Yaaaawn!!
0

mightytown added 17:27 - Apr 22 ^^^^^^cant please some people^^^^^^^misery guts!!! he's doing the right thing, no sense giving anything away just yet, i do think hooper would be a cracking addition to our team, could all just be hot guff, i guess we'll have to wait and see!
0

mightytown added 17:28 - Apr 22 ooops! you got in there before me rockstar! the arrows are meant to point in indignation at paulmariner!
0

Mungo added 19:16 - Apr 22 RK needs to put some very serious thought into his transfer targets this summer. Far too many expensive flops in the first year and made a rod for his own back (and theirs) by spending over the odds on players that didn't perform. Needs to deliver some substance this year, not just hype...
0

jas0999 added 19:34 - Apr 22 What are some people on? When has Roy openly admitted interest in a player?I can't remember one single occasion. I think you may be getting confused with Magilton, who as we know couldn't keep his mouth shut. Remember the guy who scored the winner in a Euro Championship final ... Jim went on and on about him and in the end we had to settle for .... erm, Lisbie. The Norris situation was another pitiful episode. Bottom line is I like the way Roy goes about his business. Plays his cards close to his chest. Much better than the last regime.

0

tom_the_blue added 20:15 - Apr 22 Jas, I think people are stretching out the "I'm close to signing 2 players, one of them is Irish" statement as far as it will go and trying to use it against him, as they do with everything. He didn't say who it was, and I think he knows what he's doing by keeping his targets to himself. As you said, the Norris situation was ridiculous, we could have had him for half the price if Jim hadn't come across desperate. That wouldn't happen with Roy.

0

Lower_North added 22:13 - Apr 22 Hooper, Chopra, suprise us RK and actually land 'em.Blah blah blah..
0

Suffolk_n_Good added 00:56 - Apr 23 Rumours are one thing, but actually signing them ahead of other clubs is the hard bit!! I dont think anyone would deny Chopra, Hooper & Wickham would be a mouth watering front trio for next season.... Oh well, 1 out of 3 aint bad!! BTW Tractorog, i'll take your "Town have been linked with" line guess of 45 & increase it to 50!! I believe were already at 3 (Chopra, Hooper & that Southampton chap!) LOL!!

0

NorwichBlue138 added 04:55 - Apr 23 Sell: Martin Balkestein Edwards (if anyone will have him at his age) C. Healy R. Wright Priskin Trotter Use the money (plus some of Evans' millions) to buy: Chopra (~£3m) Murphy (~£500K) Another decent defender as cover (Rosenior??) COYB
0

bennyblue added 08:08 - Apr 23 i agrre with some of you im just not ready to say who at this particular time
0

dirtydingusmagee added 11:18 - Apr 23 ya'l be getting a splinter in ya ar;e sitting on the fence Bennyblue.!
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls