Town boss Mick McCarthy says he gave short shrift to an audacious loan offer for last season's 27-goal Championship top scorer Daryl Murphy, the subject of much transfer speculation this summer.

Middlesbrough are understood to have had a £4.5 million offer turned down, while Sheffield Wednesday were reported to have made bid last week and Norwich City are amongst a host of other clubs from the Championship and Premier League believed to be eyeing the former Sunderland, Celtic and Waterford man.

Quizzed on the offers the Blues may have received and rejected, McCarthy was keeping typically tightlipped following Saturday’s 6-0 friendly victory at Shelbourne.

“I’m not going to tell you anything,” he said. “Has there been any interest in Daryl? There’s been loads. I’ve even had one club ring me up and ask me if we’d loan him! Knobheads. That was outstanding.”

While McCarthy kept his counsel regarding the identity of the side making the somewhat ambitious enquiry, it's believed it was Sheffield Wednesday, who are looking to strengthen following their takeover earlier in the year.

He added: “I was asked, he said you can have a one word answer, which kind of stole my thunder because he knew what I’d have told him if he’d have given me two words with which to answer, so I had to think of something else sharp and witty, which I managed!

“It was somewhat ridiculous. Maybe they were winding me up, I don’t know. I don’t think they were.”

He says the interest in Murphy comes as no surprise: “No, why would it? He had an outstanding season, 27 goals and it was fantastic. I actually prefer it when there’s interest in my players because it means they’ve played well.

“I don’t want to lose them. I think we proved that last year when we turned down £3.5 million for Tyrone Mings and sold him this year for £8 million. That’s a different ball game.

“And the same with David McGoldrick [when Leicester offered £7 million] and I’m hoping it’s going to be the same with Daryl Murphy - that any interest can be staved off.”

McCarthy says it was no shock to hear that Murphy had played well for Ireland in their summer draws with England and Scotland.

“I’d be lying if I said I saw him play because I didn’t, I didn’t watch the games I was on holiday and I was at a wedding for the other game. I heard he played well which didn’t surprise me, I think he had an outstanding year.”

He says he can see why Murphy is currently being selected ahead of Premier League players such as Shane Long.

“It depends what type of player you want playing,” he added. “I suppose he and Shane Long would be fairly similar, I think.

“I know one is playing in the Premier League but Daryl scored 27 goals and sometimes you pick the player that’s in hot form, which he was.”

Meanwhile, McCarthy says he’s pleased to have added Arsenal loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles to his squad, the 17-year-old having made his first appearance in a Town shirt at Shelbourne.

“Delighted with him, really good,” he added. “He’s only a young ‘un but he’s a really good footballer.

“Listen, he can be Arsenal player, so that’s saying something. We’re lucky that we’ve got him.”

McCarthy dismisses the suggestion that the additions of Maitland-Niles and fellow loanee Ryan Fraser mark a change to a more wing-based style of football.

“I think we’ve always tried to have that but it’s not always worked, to be quite honest," he said.

"I signed Cameron Stewart and Alex Henshall last year for that reason and we ended up with Tabby, who is more of a left-side of midfield player there, who played 35 games. He was different class, Tabby. And Paul Anderson on the other side.

"We’re trying to get better players in all the time. We’re trying to get more goals from midfield and wide areas because we didn’t get enough last year.”

Town are next in action at Fortuna Düsseldorf on Friday evening when Murphy, McGoldrick and Christophe Berra will be back with the squad after being given additional time off having been on international duty well into June.

“Thursday we fly in, we train Thursday evening,” McCarthy said. “We train Friday morning, do a little bit of something and come back on Saturday. Just a couple of nights.”

Photo: Action Images

Surco72 added 13:29 - Jul 13 It doesn't matter what level of players were released in the summer it matters that we were not strong enough to gain promotion ( definitely vast improvement on previous seasons but at the end of the day not good enough ) and we have so far not strengthened enough in areas that most supporters would agree on that we need to ? Top quality Goalkeeper , any natural right back, a proper midfield playmaker whilst selling one of the highlights of last season in Mings . As for adding loans as the season went on our loans came in and were average championship players that made us into an average championship side which won only 9 games out of 25 or so after Christmas when we should have invested when we top of the league and the best chance of promotion for many , many years . The bigger picture for me is that you will not gain promotion with the likes of Tabb playing 35 games a season , and the quality of players like the Hunts , Sammon, Varney , Chaplow coming off the bench or playing . Also I believe Pitman has been signed as either Murphy or Dids are going as last season when questioned about forwards MM stated why would you want more as you couldn't keep them all happy if they are not playing . Has he changed his philosophy or is someone leaving ?

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BlueandTruesince82 added 14:04 - Jul 13 Of course it matters, the argument is that we are weaker now than last season but that argument doesn't hold water if the players let go made little or no impact on the first team. There is a focus on being 13 down in terms of numbers but again its not a like for like comparison because 4/5 of those did not arrive until mid way through the season so compared to this time last year we are not as many down as people say. Secondly the season has not started yet! So what's happening? we are complaining about nothing but a possible scenario, one of many potential conclusions. I think we will see more additions and so long as (like those so far) they are better than those let go, the squad will have improved 3rdly last year all I read was we wont get to the play offs, were not good enough, we need more players blah blah blah, what happened? Mick defied everyone's expectation and got us there. As for good enough or not well that really is a matter of opinion and will remain to be seen but based on pervious events I still maintain Mick deserves the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. Have you ever noticed how positive things happen to positive people and negative things to negative people? Something for some to consider rather than as always whinge b4 something has happened.

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itsonlyme added 14:20 - Jul 13 Despite what some of you say, i still think we are short of quality. the real test to making promotion is to look at the subs bench. Nine times out of ten a team with a strong subs bench will gain promotion. When the season starts, just take a look at ours and ask your-self is it a strong bench? - that should answer the question as to whether we are good enough.
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jabberjackson added 15:31 - Jul 13 Derby spent a fortune, and finished below us They had a very strong squad and a top quality manager Mick is the smartest manager in the championship, and I firmly believe we will see 3 or 4 players before the season starts that will make us very excited, whether they cost a big fee or nothing at all is absolutely irrelevant I'm with BlueandTrue all the way!
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Surco72 added 15:43 - Jul 13 Blueandtruesince 82..... We were not good enough last season not a matter of opinion - proved fact as we did not get promotion ? If our squad was good enough we would be in the premiership . We can now only wait until the end of next season , but to a number of supporters who can see the squad has a number of weak areas that need attention , not wait till the season has started and then try and do something about it . A number said the squad needed strengthening at Christmas MM stated he was happy and the squad was good enough , we didn't compete as well after Christmas and went from top to scraping in the playoffs on goal difference - not opinions facts It is not just about the starting eleven it is about the bench , the squad to cover injuries the quality that can change a game , last season MM had his hands tied to do anything due to our small squad and lack of depth and quality I hope your right and we do see more additions rather than just say how well we have done in keeping hold of our own players like last summer , we need to match the players and managers ambitions

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BlueandTruesince82 added 16:08 - Jul 13 Well again If the season started tomorrow (Which it doesn't) Bart Chambo Berra Smith Parr Skuse Fraser MN MCG Murph Sears Bench Gerks, Pitman (Varney to come), Bishop, Bru, Tabb, (Hyam still to come back) Connolly, Henshall, That other Irish youngster who's name I can never remember, Yerworth, Clarke and possibly Ambrose, Regardless of anyone's personal choice for a starting 11 that is not a bad bench to have. To the point where you could argue that what we need is cover for our cover. I agree strength in depth is important, and yes I want to see more additions, but I don't think its panic stations yet, I do think we will see more players in and if we are to sign players they have to be better than what we have. no point in signing for signings sake.

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BlueandTruesince82 added 16:21 - Jul 13 Surco, no one expected to go up. The mandate was playoffs. You and others said that was unachievable, because are squad was to thin we got there. Those are the only facts in question. Mick delivered on exceeded almost everyone's expectation last year, it is a project, projects take time. You're assuming the worst before we have kicked a ball. Try positive thinking and maybe good things will happen

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Surco72 added 16:35 - Jul 13 Good debate Blue and true ... I am not predicting the worst merely voicing my opinion of how I see our squad competing with the rest of the league as every season the goal has to be promotion as every year it will get harder and harder with more teams having more money to spend . Fingers crossed for a good season , lets wait and see
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BlueandTruesince82 added 16:39 - Jul 13 Indeed Surco, what I like most is we can have a difference of opinion and argue about it without the need to call each other names, just as the forum intended :-)
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jabberjackson added 16:44 - Jul 13 get a room!
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Slambo added 17:22 - Jul 13 Coo, that was like the love-in with Middlesborough fans last season! Save it for Valentine's Day lads..! I have to side with Blueandtrue on this one (primarily cuz I think he nicked my thoughts from earlier posts ;)) The core of the team - aside from a starting right back, granted - is indeed complete, with a fair bit of depth. Not loads, but enough to cover us in key areas. We've still got 7 weeks of transfer window, so no need to start panic buying. As again iterated above, signing players for the sake of it is detrimental... A point i'd also like to make, something that I think is sorely undervalued, is what a difference CONTINUITY (y'see how serious I am, I wrote it in capitals) makes; the core of the team has been in place for nigh on 3 seasons now which provides stability and togetherness. What's more, think of the difference regular Championship football is going to make to players like Bishop and Sears. Them two are going to really kick on next season, mark my words. Also look at Henshall... Don't be surprised if the real stars of the upcoming season come from right under our noses...

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blueboy1981 added 19:09 - Jul 13 ......... quite simply Guys and Gals - to keep our best players we need to show ambition - both on and off the field ......... that includes making 'statements of intent' both in terms of Academy status, and First Team aspirations. What is NOT good enough is making a few nice noises at appropriate times, just to sell enough Season Tickets to keep the 'wolf from the door'. Which of the above are / have we been doing ??? ............. most will have the intelligence to relate to the above (hopefully anyway).

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blueboy1981 added 19:15 - Jul 13 ......... with quality and strength on the bench it essentially means a PLan B or even Plan C - is in the breach waiting. We so sadly, and very visibly lacked that last season - hence falling at the final hurdles - as some of us expected.
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Warkys_Tash added 19:21 - Jul 13 Ken Brennan, has Murphy only just turned 32? Also, Van Persie's wage demands - which are probably in the £150k+ pw bracket - makes it an unrealistic comparison. If Murphy was demanding £50k per week them he would probably be a free transfer!
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bluesince84 added 21:25 - Jul 13 My turn. The thing that worries me is not the striker situation actually. People were calling for Micks blood the couple of days before he made the best bit of transfer business in a generation, whilst at the same time getting a young, attacking talent in ( which people have been clawing for) and also a great striker for free. The season has not started, Mick has not finished. I notice a pattern, We all moan, it builds to a crescendo, then Mick pulls a rabbit out of the hat. Any way what worries me more than anything is the 'Tabby was different class' Now that scares the living s**t out of me going in to a new season. Dont think i remember a player being lionised like tabb having produced so little. Hard worker yes, different class.......le fondra is different class, Bamford is different class..... Tabb??? come on....what are the pictures he has to blackmail Mick McCarthy ........

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Guthrum added 21:30 - Jul 13 That's so much better than the bowdlerised version in today's EADT!
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Guthrum added 21:46 - Jul 13 2014-15, inc sub appearances: With Jay Tabb in the team: 45% wins Without Jay Tabb in the team: 33% wins
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Surco72 added 07:41 - Jul 14 Guthrum do that statistic for Bishop ?
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Guthrum added 12:13 - Jul 14 2014-15, inc sub appearances: With Teddy Bishop in the team: 42% wins Without Teddy Bishop in the team: 47% wins Not so much of a differentiation (five percentage points). Tho he and Tabb are not competing for the same position.
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blueboy1981 added 18:12 - Jul 14 ......... 'Tabby was different class' - maybe in terms of being able to run thro' a brick wall in training. This kind of statement must make people question MM's judgement .......... surely no one who knows Football could make that statement, without taking the 'proverbial' peeeeee......
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