Boss Roy Keane has confirmed that skipper Jon Walters has asked to leave the club with Stoke City his most likely destination - if they offer the Blues their valuation of the former Chester man. Walters, who missed Tuesday’s Carling Cup tie at Exeter with a virus, is also interesting another Premier League club.

Keane says £3 million-rated Walters spoke to him earlier in the summer asking to move on: “He said he is aware of the interest and he wants to go, he wanted ‘out of Ipswich’, they were his exact words.

“I tried to talk him out of it, not for too long, but then I said ‘you can go when the time’s right and the figure’s right’. And until that’s the case Jon will be here. He might be here for another year.

“But I know the clubs are talking and we’re getting closer. There are a couple of clubs interested in Jon.

“I would say Stoke are the favourites because Jon wants to get back towards that neck of the woods, like he did two years ago. He managed to get a new contract then. That won’t be happening again.”

Keane admits he is frustrated at the way the move has been handled by his captain, who he feels has had his head turned by those who might offer him top flight football: “He’s under contract here but we all live in the real world.

“Are players getting tapped up? Absolutely, 100%. Can I prove it? Obviously not, unless I get agents’ and managers’ phone bills. It’s the way of the world.

“Jon’s had his head turned and he’s told me in the last few weeks that he wants to go, and good luck to him.”

Keane says Walters remains his captain, for the time being at least: “He is today, but football changes on a daily basis.”

Walters, who has two years left on his Town contract, joined the Blues from Chester for a fee of £100,000 plus add-ons in January 2007 during Jim Magilton’s time as manager.

Photo: Action Images

Stu_Magoo added 05:39 - Aug 13 Poor show Jon Walters! If I walked into my bosses office today and had the gall to tell him "I wanted out" he'd tell me to f*ck off and show me the door. It doesnt matter how henpecked he is, the fact remains that he has a contract to ITFC and whilst he is perfectly intitled to dream of the Premiership, I really expected more from him. Plus, Stoke??!! What a sh*t club, sh*t place and how funny will it be next season when he is playing for that scruffy tw*t Pulis in the Championship and we are basking in the glory of the Money League!! Oh, and Keane would definitely have Pulis in a fight!

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Radlett_blue added 07:38 - Aug 13 Can anyone blame him for wanting to play in the Premier League & increase his salary?
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ITFC_Budapest added 08:18 - Aug 13 Not wanting to sound bitter but walters will join the line of big headed town players who left us and then achieved sweet fa!
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brogansnose added 08:30 - Aug 13 Cant blame Walters for wanting to go and having his family concerns at heart, especially with the problems that he has had. More money too and a chance to play in the Premier. The nasty part is that Pulis is obviously playing on the fact that Walters wants away to get him on the cheap and is messing around with Keane and Colonel Clegg. All in all i think that it would be beneficial for us all because although Keane has stood by him since he has been here he must have thought OMG at his performances last season. Surely him leaving would at least result in a better style of play. Mind you , why anyone would want to live in that area i have no idea, what a toilet. Had a good club in Golden once, back in the day though.

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itfc1981 added 09:14 - Aug 13 I think he's worth 3 million untill we sell him,after that I will let you know my true valuation.
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yorksblue added 17:08 - Aug 13 £3mil to go and sit in Stoke's reserves and be treated like crap by Pulis. Good luck to ya, mate. Beattie, Kitson, Tonge have all done well under him....not.
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h32 added 20:36 - Aug 13 As quoted in the EADT today: - 'we had a player recently who did not want to take part in a media obligation because it would mean being photographed in an Ipswich shirt '. What kind of attitude is that for someone obviously on the clubs payroll ?? If we have players at the club who have this attitude the sooner their exit can be arranged the better - whoever they are.
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