Town are yet to receive bids for striker Connor Wickham or any other members of the squad, according to manager Paul Jewell. Liverpool were reported to have made an offer for Wickham variously claimed to be £8 million or £5.5 million, while Sunderland were also said to have made a move for the 18-year-old England U21 international.

Jewell said: “Everybody is talking about Connor Wickham but we have had no offers for any of our players, and that includes him.

“The good thing about it is that I don’t have to sell anybody, unless it’s an offer that we feel is right for whatever player and we want it to happen or a player doesn’t want to be here.

“There have been enquiries but no offers. Enquiries don’t mean a thing. I could ring Barcelona and enquire about Messi but it doesn’t mean I’ll get him.”

The Blues boss doesn’t expect too much to happen in the transfer market until the end of this month: “Jordan Henderson and Phil Jones have moved for big money but things will really start to hot up when we come back for pre-season [on June 29th in Town's case].

“I know how it works. A manager will think he’s got his squad together then something will happen injury-wise and he’ll start looking around to see what’s available.”

Jewell says the Blues want to keep Wickham but reiterated that every player has his price: “There is no point in getting uptight about it. We don’t want to sell Connor Wickham but if he wants to leave and the right offer comes in, we will have to consider it.

“Connor has never given me any indication that he wants to leave. Our backs are not against the wall, we are in control of the situation.

“At the end of the day football is like everything else. Money is tight, although I know you wouldn’t believe it, looking at some of the transfers at the moment.

“Ipswich Town have been in administration not too long ago. We want to be ambitious but we also have to be realistic. If there is money to spend I want to spend it wisely and how much money there is to spend might depend on who comes in and who goes out. Don’t discount anybody coming in or count anyone out.”

Elsewhere, Town are claimed to be one of a number of sides eyeing Colchester central defender Magnus Okuonghae. Reading are understood to be the frontrunners for the 25-year-old Nigerian’s signature - their skipper Matt Mills believed to be interesting Wolves - with the Blues and Charlton also said to be monitoring the situation.

Contracted to the U’s until 2012, former Rushden and Diamonds, Aldershot, St Albans City, Crawley Town, Dagenham and Redbridge and Weymouth (loan) man Okuonghae is likely to be best remembered by Town fans for scoring a superb own goal during Fabian Wilnis’s testimonial at Portman Road in July 2009.

Photo: Action Images

Garv added 21:00 - Jun 13 @churchman, nine league goals last campaign, two off our top scorer, not bad for a 17 year old (18 for the last few games)....good prepararion and pre-season he might double that and 18 from Wickham next season I would be a happy man and so would Jewell with £15m to spend next summer!
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idrinkbeer added 02:55 - Jun 15 hahahaha magnus okunghae used to go out with my mates sister when he played for rushden! he is nowhere near town standard.
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