Town boss Paul Jewell has revealed that the Blues could make their first summer signing as soon as next week. The Town manager says the club has spent the last few months quietly working on recruiting the players he needs to make the Blues more competitive next season.

Jewell said: “There are deals going on where the owner is talking to other chairmen that we’re trying to keep as discreet as possible about. There are deals in the offing, shall we say.

“I would say that some aren’t a million miles away but my experience in football is that once you start saying a deal is done, something comes along and kicks you right in the nuts.

“You’ve got to be careful. I’d rather be sat here and say ‘listen, we’ve signed two players today, this, that and the other’ than say ‘I think it’s going to get done’ because as soon as you think it’s going to get done, something happens overnight. But we are very hopeful of maybe completing a deal next week.”

The Blues boss says Town securing their divisional status relatively early has meant that work on the summer transfer dealings could get under way sooner than might have been the case: “I don’t want into rush anything, but the beauty of what the lads have done this season is that we know we’re going to be a Championship team next year and we’ve been actively trying to do that for quite some time.

“These things take time. In my experience, if you can buy players with a clear head, it’s a lot easier than buying them in the transfer window when the clock’s ticking and you end up getting players for the wrong reasons.

“If we can get the players that we want, we’ve done our homework and it’s been a bit of a long process.”

Jewell says that process began the moment he arrived at the club in January: “The identification of where we need to be better for next season has been going on since we got here. Once you know where you need to improve, you go about trying to improve that with players, clubs and agents.

“We’ve been working really hard behind the scenes trying to put things in place to get people here for next season. For that to happen, you need a little bit of luck, you need to be a little bit ahead of the game in some aspects and have a good scouting system.

“We’ve got a lot of targets that we’re looking to bring in, we’re obviously not going to get all of them, but I think it’s important that the supporters know that we’re not thinking ‘we just need one or two players to have a chance of being better next season’.

“We need four or five quality players to go straight into that team on top of what we’ve already got.”

Photo: Action Images

SuffolkBlue88 added 14:20 - May 6 Re: Traylor 7 - I doubt very much Obertan is coming to Portman Road on loan. Although he obviously doesn't fit into Man Utd's plans at present - with his current wages in mind - Sir Alex would be looking to offload him in a transfer rather than take a considerable loss on wages. I'm also not sure I really want to see a bunch of misfits brought into the club - I'd rather see players with hunger and fight who have the passion to pull on a town shirt - that only comes with scouting lower leagues. Take Walters and Drury for example - both hungry to pull on a town shirt and put in a performance. Not an up-themselves overrated star. Hope that makes sense - only my point of view of course!

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My_TFC added 14:23 - May 6 bluearmy89 - You are right, you can "sign" a player outside of a transfer window - essentially meaning that on the first day of the window it will automatically officially go through, so something could have been agreed and the player will provisionally sign. I have faith in Paul Jewell, if GMac and Norris want to leave, that is their decision, but I'm sure there are plans if they do go and I believe that Portman Road will be an exciting place next season. Just got to get that striker.....

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bluearmy89 added 14:44 - May 6 Cheers Town_1989 I thought so, thats good then hopefully some 'irons in the fire' will come to fruition!
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Lightningboy added 15:08 - May 6 So nice listening to a positive manager as opposed to the last 2 summers. I personally have 100% faith in Jewell to give us some good football in the coming seasons & a team to start being proud of once again..I just hope that the fans give him time..it's not going to turn around just like that but i'm sure we'll be there or there abouts in the next couple of years under PJ...the club is in a safe pair of hands again.

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Lightningboy added 15:13 - May 6 Btw..I hope it's not Obertan..I can't help but think of Homer Simpson whenever I see him.
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rosseden added 15:47 - May 6 “my experience in football is that once you start saying a deal is done, something comes along and kicks you right in the nuts'' id have something to say about going to work if when something didnt happen i got a kick in the nuts.....maybe thats why footballers are paid so much?
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nickforeveritfc added 15:53 - May 6 very pleasing to see PJ trying to bring in players early :) i have got great hopes for next season and think he will be the manager to take us up!
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BlueITFC added 16:25 - May 6 Nice to know that everything is not being left to the last minute:)
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itfcdan94 added 16:31 - May 6 i hope we sign bullard he makes such a differnce to our midfeild.
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Lay added 16:57 - May 6 How can he make one next week if the windoww isnt open?
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bigfish added 17:33 - May 6 i do not want to know until it happens. ITFC keep it on a need to know so we get them.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 18:41 - May 6 fingers crossed but sounds like marketing of season tickets again
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h32 added 19:12 - May 6 .......... don't get too excited until you know name - otherwise you may just, only just, be disappointed !!!!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 22:19 - May 6 I wont get excited untill the players concerned have signed on the dotted line, however, still have high hopes in Mr Jewells ability to get some new talent into our club.
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denhamblue added 11:10 - May 7 could should,might oh how i love these wordings.Reminds me of writing a politicaly correct risk assessment at work.
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AndrewPC added 12:02 - May 8 There is already an unhealthy level of expectation among fans about Town's performances and results for next season, in my view. Although a few voices point out the need for root and branch changes, most seem to believe that the owner's deep pockets are going to buy success. This is not the right approach. Of course, the club aspires to get to the Premiership. Yes, we want to be in the play offs next season, as does the owner and the manager. But what role is going to be played by expensive newcomers as opposed to the talented youngsters that are already at the club ? For example, consider this team (4-4-2) which is based on the assumption of the departures of O'Dea, Norris, McAuley, Murphy, Bullard & Fulop: Lee Barrett Edwards Delaney Smith Kennedy Carson Peters Hyam Martin Scotland Wickham Bench: Cody, Brown, Eastman, Drury (or Healy), O'Connor, Murray (or Civelli) With NO SPENDING on new players, I think that the above squad, if^playing regularly together with 2 up front, could compete at Championship level. The average age of the team would probably be only about 21 years old. They would not gain promotion next season. But they would play "the Ipswich way" which means attractive and entertaining football with goalscoring, quick passing and commitment being at the heart of their game. Of course, I am a realist. I do not expect that the above formation will see the light of day; not least because PJ is probably on a mandate to get Town in the top 6 next season. So be it. HOWEVER, what I want to show is that there is a strong case for buidling a new team from the foundation of young players already available. I am happy to hear of Town being associated with players like Westwood; but when I hear of the likes of Roberts and Nugent I am thoroughly unconvinced as I do not think they will bring the right attitude, culture and commitment.

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AndrewPC added 12:02 - May 8 There is already an unhealthy level of expectation among fans about Town's performances and results for next season, in my view. Although a few voices point out the need for root and branch changes, most seem to believe that the owner's deep pockets are going to buy success. This is not the right approach. Of course, the club aspires to get to the Premiership. Yes, we want to be in the play offs next season, as does the owner and the manager. But what role is going to be played by expensive newcomers as opposed to the talented youngsters that are already at the club ? For example, consider this team (4-4-2) which is based on the assumption of the departures of O'Dea, Norris, McAuley, Murphy, Bullard & Fulop: Lee Barrett Edwards Delaney Smith Kennedy Carson Peters Hyam Martin Scotland Wickham Bench: Cody, Brown, Eastman, Drury (or Healy), O'Connor, Murray (or Civelli) With NO SPENDING on new players, I think that the above squad, if^playing regularly together with 2 up front, could compete at Championship level. The average age of the team would probably be only about 21 years old. They would not gain promotion next season. But they would play "the Ipswich way" which means attractive and entertaining football with goalscoring, quick passing and commitment being at the heart of their game. Of course, I am a realist. I do not expect that the above formation will see the light of day; not least because PJ is probably on a mandate to get Town in the top 6 next season. So be it. HOWEVER, what I want to show is that there is a strong case for buidling a new team from the foundation of young players already available. I am happy to hear of Town being associated with players like Westwood; but when I hear of the likes of Roberts and Nugent I am thoroughly unconvinced as I do not think they will bring the right attitude, culture and commitment.

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