Boss Roy Keane concedes that it might not be easy to move on all the current players he sees as surplus to requirements. Keane has identified a number of squad members that he feels won’t be in his plans next season with four or five new signings already in his sights.

Keane said: “There are players that we have at the club that might have to move on, simple as that.

“Whether clubs come in for them is another issue, but whatever happens I’ve got four or five players that we need at the club next year. Whether I’ve seven or eight I’d like to move on or 15, that’s irrelevant, these four or five players are massively important to us if we want to take the club forward next year.”

Keane will meet with the club’s 11 out-of-contract players this week to tell them whether they are being kept on, with one of this morning’s newspapers reporting that keeper Richard Wright will be amongst those released, a move which wouldn't be a surprise with Brian Murphy establishing himself as Town's number one and the former England man likely to be on big wages.

The Blues boss will also be looking to find new clubs for some of those whose deals stretch beyond the summer. Kevin Lisbie, Jon Stead, Pablo Couñago, Alan Quinn, Lee Martin, Owen Garvan, Alex Bruce, Colin Healy and Tamás Priskin are all contracted until at least 2011 but are either currently out of the first team or on loan.

Keane says some of those that he would like to depart may decide to stay despite not being involved in the first team: “One or two might say ‘listen, I’ve got a year left, I’ve got two years and I’m going to sit tight’.

“We’re not here to force any player out of the football club, but we might have to say to them ‘we’ve had enquires, if you want to move on, we certainly won’t stand in your way because you mightn’t be part of the plans’.

“But, as I say, we’re not here to force anyone out of the football club, they’re under contract and we’ve got to be prepared to honour that.”

At least one new striker is clearly amongst Keane’s priorities with Jon Walters currently topping this season's scoring charts with just eight goals. But the Town manager says finances could prevent him from signing the really top level Championship frontmen: “We haven’t got anybody in the group that is showing that they can get 15, never mind 20.

“[Someone capable of scoring] 20 goals might be out of our reach in terms of the type of strikers we’re after, whether you’re looking at a player who isn’t in his first team in the Premiership or someone who is doing well in the Championship.

”If you look at the players who have done well in the Championship, the Chopras, I think Chopra was about £4 million. We have to be realistic and, obviously, the bigger the fee, the bigger the wages. There’s lots to go into it.

“We have to be careful who we target over the next few months. We have to be realistic who we think we can get, who we fancy coming to Ipswich, in terms of the fee and the wages. It’s going to be difficult, no doubt.”

Cardiff's Michael Chopra and Scunthorpe's Gary Hooper have already been linked with summer moves to the Blues.

Photo: Action Images

Lightningboy added 14:45 - Apr 27 Try giving 2 strikers a run in the team together Roy,then we and they might get somewhere..if you keep changing your strike partnership around each and every game then they're never going to gel..it's not rocket science is it.
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bleedblue added 14:45 - Apr 27 rumours from contacts at the club is there isn't much money for transfers but there will be more for wages so perhaps a couple of freebies and a loan signing is on the cards but without selling some players I cant see us spending big money. If we could however, I would go for Hooper (Scunthorpe) or Chopra (Cardiff) but having said that, I do think Wickham and Priskin will do the business next year, Priskin has got goals in him and the second season is usually most crucial for a player! Wickham speaks for himself - what a talent!!

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byebyesheepshanks added 14:49 - Apr 27 Rhodes & Whickham could have been the next Wright & Bright
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stinkiusminkius added 14:54 - Apr 27 You couldnt blame players like pablo and garvan for hanging around on their contracts, as they know that if keane doesn't improve at the start of next season then he may be sacked by Xmas, and a new manager will come in - maybe that new man would be someone that would use their flair and creativity properly. And let's face it, if ME is feeling really ruthless then there may even be a change this summer (altho unlikely).

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jas0999 added 16:02 - Apr 27 newburyblue - nice team and agree with a striker, left midfielder and left back. However, as your 'team' shows we are lacking experienced cover at the back. No disrespect to Eastman or Smith, but if one of our other defenders picked up a long injury (there is also a chance that Delaney may not make the start of the season), if we have any real ambitions for promotion, we need cover. Same applies to the striker situation. As RK said, we can't rely on a 17 year old and even if we did where is the back up? Hopefully most of our other strikers will be shipped out as the are not good enough. So, in conclusion, 5 new players seems sensible.

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TractorRoyNo1 added 16:26 - Apr 27 Chopra is an interesting one; if Cardiff win promotion they may sell because he is not good enough for the top league, if they miss out they may go bust and we get him cheap-er.
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Bobby_Petta added 17:25 - Apr 27 Shame if Garven Leaves, for me still our most creative midfielder, but he does'nt run round like a head less chicken enough for Keane, you can't have a whole mildfield made up of defensive midfielders. Which has been our main problem this season. I would like to see Norris go, for me overated, 2 mill what a waste!
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arc added 22:44 - Apr 27 I would be delighted to see that list of players leave; I would only shed a tear over Garvan, but it's time for him to move on, for his own sake as much as ours. Of the four or five new players, I would hope that two or three could be season loaners. Less cost, less risk, and–if done right–more quality (see Colback, Jack).
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bennyblue added 23:59 - Apr 27 we need a striker all right just dont let keane pick him he couldnt pick a nose in a room full of pinnochios
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WadzillaBhoy added 00:22 - Apr 28 Seriously although it was a shame to see Jordan go, I wouldn't like to see him come back to us (not that he probably would!). I think Keano did the right thing by letting him go as it has allowed Connor to develop at a fast rate. As for L.Martin I reckon he will become good, I'd like to see Keano get rid of Edwards though he's too old and barely gets involved in games. Personally I think Garvan is going to go as we have Billy Clark as cover for the CM's next season. He came on in the Newcastle game on the 86th minute and got an assist! A good crop of youths coming through at the moment, I'm sure they will feature a big part next season.

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