Town manager Roy Keane says no transfers in or out of Portman Road are imminent but feels that the same is true for many other clubs at this stage of the summer. Keane expects more business to take place nearer to the start of the season.

The Blues boss says there is plenty of talk between managers even if there are very few actual moves: “It’s very quiet. I think it’s been the same for lots of clubs, particularly in the Championship, I don’t think there’s too much money around.

“There are plenty of phone calls going on. I’ve had a few calls about some of my players, I’ve made enquiries for some other players and it’s fun and games at the moment.”

Keane says that it’s likely that some of his fringe players will move on before he adds to his squad with owner and chairman Marcus Evans determined to trim the Portman Road wage bill: “I don’t think anything will happen over the next few weeks and I’ve got a decent squad as it is, but it’s getting the balance of the squad right.

“I’m fine for numbers but there are one or two areas I’d like to strengthen and until I move one or two players out, I don’t see any player coming to Ipswich in the next week or two.”

However, the Town manager says that deals sometimes come out of the blue: “The strange thing about football is that things can change very quickly, don’t be surprised if something happens tomorrow. I can’t predict what will happen.

“As I say, there are lots of phone calls and lots of enquiries coming into the club for some of our players and I’ve spoken to one or two managers about potentially bringing in one or two targets, but that’s all it is at the moment, a few phone calls.

“I’m pleased with the players, pleased with the squad, the numbers we have and I’m in no mad rush to strengthen. The players are working hard, the spirit’s good and I’m very lucky I’m working with some good players.”

Keane says that Crystal Palace have made no firm offer for midfielder Owen Garvan, despite George Burley confirming his interest yesterday: “I think there have been stories of offers being in for some of our players, but there’s been no offer made for Owen Garvan.

“Managers have conversations every day about players. I’ve done the same, I’ve been doing it this morning, but in terms of concrete offers for Owen Garvan, it’s certainly not true, but there’s no surprise there in terms of speculation.”

Photo: Action Images

SiBo added 09:17 - Jul 11 It is still early days in the transfer market... and to be honest we don't need to buy in another 3/4 players... 1, maybe 2 really good signings would do it and keep some continuity in the squad. We have the bones of a decent side, we really do, we are just short on a couple of areas... we need a decent goal scorer to help Whickham (There probably aren't many teams who don't say that...) Keane tried to do this last year with the purchase of Priskin, which as a 17 goal man the previous season, looked a decent signing... but we all know it hasn't worked. Maybe it's Keane, but if you look closer at Priskin's record he did little for Watford in the previous 2 years, so may need time to settle... the problem is that these days players (and managers) are not given time to settle properly... and Keane obviously wants Chopra in there... maybe if we can offload some of the players he doesn't want, the Chopra deal can be resurrected. The other forwards at the club should be let go... Stead, Pablo (Sad with Pablo, because like many I like him, but his record just doesn't indicate he can get the goals for us and that's what we neeed...) I also think we need a decent right back... or at least a cover for right back if Peters turns into the Right Back he looks capable of being... then we pretty much have a team that can challenge for a playoff place. If you want to go one further, then maybe an attacking midfielder... although if Martin gets his finger out and plays to his potential, he could be that man. We are not far short of a decent side... and even without additional signings we should do OK... we will not have a start like last year and that is what cost us so dear... Trying to bring in 4/5/6 players as the Norwich have, just doesn't work... the side become unsettled and don't gel... Norwich will regret not sticking (in the main) with the squad that got them promoted... And Ipswich will reap the benefit of having a more settled squad.

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generalpublic added 09:49 - Jul 11 just got a feeling that keane is the biggest block of deadwood we have on the books
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Bobby_Petta added 11:24 - Jul 11 Keane siginings: Hit or Miss Martin - Miss (big wages) Edwards - Miss (big wages & 31) Healy - Miss Priskin - Jury out (big wages) Delaney - Hit Leadbitter - Hit (big wages & outlay) Murphy - hit Could do Jims to but be here all day, about the same 50% good the rest not.
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Brad_C_ITFC added 14:55 - Jul 11 Keano is grinding on me now. Whilst I'll probably get abuse for saying so, I just don't think his heart is really in this.... yes okay we need to sell first, that's understandable but why did we not make these 8 players available before the transfer window opened. All this bol***ks about getting players in for pre-season and getting in 4-5, he's just trying to talk his way out of a s**t situation. I read one comment on here which is spot on. Apart from a couple every team in the league has signed atleast one player ffs. If we had managed to have snatched Chopra it would have made a world of difference. Confidence for the team, a good partner for Wickham, Walters back in his better right side and a lift for Keano. Regardless of this comment I don't like to moan and was happy for Keano to clear the squad but get on with it you wally before time runs out. When Magilton done this he was absolutly slated. He wasn't so bad now was he....

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Marshalls_Mullet added 15:50 - Jul 11 We cant blame Marcus Evans for wanting to balance the books, Keano must get a good season out of at least 2 of Priskin, Edwards and Martin. They have been very expensive mistakes so far. In transfer fees alone they have cost ME £4.5 MILLION, and probably the same amount again in terms of the cost of their contracts. Thats £9 MILLION down the drain in Evans eyes, and he wont be wanting the same mistakes made again!!

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bluearmy4life added 17:34 - Jul 11 I really hope Priskin and Martin can really step it up next season. They are both very lucky to be playing for town next term. Both of them have a lot of potential i really hope they can come good for us. If we have both playing well and maybe scoring a few times as well as walters having a good season scoring goals who knows where we might be? I really believe wickham will be are star man next season! Pre seasons games are going well winning and scoring goals will boast the team morale!

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naaridge1coly7 added 19:26 - Jul 11 Kenae just leave you complete tool.......
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SiBo added 00:53 - Jul 12 Bobby-Petta: Why not do the same analysis of players bought into other teams? Say Man Utd and the great Sir Alex Ferguson over the past couple of years, or Liverpool, or Man City... big teams... you will not see any better stats than around 50%.
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generalpublic added 03:36 - Jul 12 have all the other teams in the 2nd got lazy no good players hanging around on big pay refusing to leave ? if so why are players not signed on performance contracts ? if marcus evans and those other past great chairman are such wonderful business people how come they have a bunch of employees sitting around on their arses doing nothing.. as paying customers of this club we expect top service and if we dont get it rip up the contracts and boot them out the door.starting with roy keane then priskin then clegg then martin etc etc etc

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Bobby_Petta added 12:19 - Jul 12 The difference being Sibo, we don't have the same sort of money to waste as those sort of clubs. As I said in one of my earlier posts, If Joe Royle had the type of money Keane & Jim had, he would have got us in two seasons. Now you pro Keane fans might say we will go up this season, and hope your right and I'll eat my words. I can't see it though, The problem is since M.E took over we haven't had a experinced Manager, we have had money but it hasn't been spend wisely, should be buliding a good young side which can get better, instead we have gone backwards, big squad big wages a manager on big wages and likes kick and rush football, we have gone back to the dark days of John Duncan!

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Bobby_Petta added 12:22 - Jul 12 Also ask the sunderland fans how many good players Keane bought, not much better there.
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SiBo added 12:40 - Jul 12 Bobby Petta: How dare you use the "D" word on here... that's the most offensive word know to any true Ipswich supporter! And no I don't think it's quite that bad yet... do you, really? I do agree that Joe Royle would have spent the money better... he was a good manager, but hold on... didn't we have half the supporters moaning when he became Manager saying we wouldn't/weren't playing football the Ipswich way and it was all "long ball" football under Royle? The modern English game is about getting the ball forward quickly to catch the opponants out of position when one of their attacks breaks down. Call it long ball or direct, it matters not, it is the way nearly every team plays in the Premiership, even some of the top teams (Man Utd, Chelsea, Spurs, Villa, Man City...) The only real "passing" team is Arsenal and even they still get he ball forward quickly at times... The diffenrece is the class of players playing for the top teams, they are better players, so better at doing it. Did you watch the World Cup Final last night? Watching Spain was like watching paint dry... lovely intricate passing, but sideways and backwards... I was bored stiff after half an hour... We say Arsenal play a passing game, but not as boring and bereft of attacking intent as Spain do... The real reason Fabregas doesn't start for spain: The manager gets a nose bleed as Fabregas is too attack minded for him... not for me!

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Bobby_Petta added 15:31 - Jul 12 Sibo yes the D word was used! I have been a season ticket holder for 26 years, and last season style of football ranked along side those days. Yes Royle may have been a bit more direct but no where near as bad as last season and he had no money. I'm not saying its got to be total football like Spain, but come on its got to be entertaining, I would like to see a Pablo Sousa type manager. We should be building a team around Garven not selling him and buying more defensive type midfielders, there has got to be a balance for me last season no pace no width and no creativity. Let's just hope it's different next season.

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generalpublic added 07:43 - Jul 13 this newfound tight fiscal discipline from roy is going to win him many admirers in business and political circles..if only roy had been in charge of the country and not tony blair for all those years we would all be millionaires and living on the algarve rather than a bankrupt overpopulated island state with no hope for the future unless china bails us out..imagine it prime minister keane it has a definite ring to it and the club could get on with the business of getting promoted with a new manager because lets face it we will never get up with roy in charge

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itfc4eva added 13:34 - Jul 13 i thought u said tht u will sign some players. where is chopra? face it noone will join us, we are hopeless!
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