Blues boss Mick McCarthy says he’ll sit down with owner Marcus Evans to discuss the summer’s transfer plans once Town’s season ends at Derby on Saturday. Evans has indicated that he could be prepared to pay fees during this close season, the Blues having largely operated utilising Bosman free transfers, loans and triggering release clauses in players’ contracts in recent years.

“When the season’s finished. I was chatting to him on the phone yesterday but we’ll sit down when it’s done,” McCarthy said.

In an interview in last week’s match programme owner Evans said that he would listen to McCarthy if he came to him wanting to sign a player for a fee, citing a figure of £1 million although, speaking to Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch (from 1hr 23mins 10secs), MD Ian Milne said that that was just an example and that a larger sum could similarly come under consideration.

“Quote his notes, ‘If Mick came to me with an investment for a player, say, for a million pounds, I’d be prepared to sit down and talk to him about it’,” McCarthy said when quizzed about Evans’s interview.

“Of course [that’s encouraging for me], but then that’s always been the case. It’d have to be the right player and I guess it’s finding that player or players that’s going to be available.

“And we’re looking at the moment and talking about it, it’s ongoing. Hopefully we can do something.”

The Town boss says he’s not yet provided the owner with a list of potential signings: “I haven’t given him a list of targets, there are areas of the pitch that we want to strengthen.

“There’s not that many targets you can have if you’re looking at Bosmans and free transfers.

“If you’re talking about a million-pound player, that’s different, but which position is that going to be in? Where are they going to be on the pitch and how many are available at that kind of money?

“And even then, suddenly, even if I announce [we’re targeting] a million-pound player, if you’ve got that, suddenly it then goes up.”

McCarthy says he’d love on-loan Arsenal youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles to spend next season at Portman Road, but isn’t expecting the 18-year-old to return.

“Ainsley, I’d have him back in a heartbeat,” the Town manager admitted. “I thought he was fabulous early on in the season. It’s his first season at this level.

“I think that it’s tough and he was playing every week on merit, I might add, he was excellent.

“And he’s had a tough end to the season, just physically it takes its toll. I doubt very much that he will come back, but I would have him, without a doubt. It’s up to him and Arsenal and we’ll see.

“But somebody’s going to get a good player, somebody’s going to get a better player for his experience this year.

“It might be us it might not, but somebody’s going to benefit from his experience of 12 months here and 12 months of being in and around the Championship and playing a lot of games.”

Photo: Action Images

textbackup added 06:14 - May 6 imagine we'd have played one of our own 18 year olds, and gave them the game time AMN got, it would be us benefitting from that next season.
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therein61 added 06:39 - May 6 Season ticket sales pitch coming up.
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Penguinblue added 06:40 - May 6 Conversation should go - ME to MM 'thanks but no thanks' No more hoofball with your favourites. McCarthy OUT
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Toronto_Tractor added 06:47 - May 6 I wonder if they'll opt for Barnsley or Benidorm?
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TractorCam added 07:09 - May 6 Penguinblue do you have nothing better to do?
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GiveusaWave added 07:19 - May 6 penguinblue Maybe I am wrong but you don't like our style of play do you?
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Tonyitfc82 added 07:26 - May 6 Booooring.
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Penguinblue added 07:27 - May 6 Mr TractorCam. I'm hoping against hope not to have to go through another season of the worst football imaginable, moronic disingenuous comments from the ,manager', contempt for fans, excuses and favoritism. Supporting a team need not force you to accept this. McCarthy is dragging the Club down. Even in an incestuous industry where managers/players slap each other on the back, look how many now rubbish Town - often in semi disguised comments about Ipswich playing a particular way. Ipswich were once renowned for foorball. So yes McCarthy OUT

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TheSelkirk added 07:57 - May 6 Although I appreciate that the discussions between ME and MM will be largely confidential, it would be great for the supporters to get at least some feedback on their plans and hopefully feedback that will (genuinely) reflect the club's ambition for next season.
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planetblue_2011 added 08:32 - May 6 Will Fraser be here next season for another loan he's the player I'd like to loan back!! Are the rumours true we are interested in southends Payne!!
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Vic added 08:56 - May 6 Testers- who are you suggesting that we could have played from the youths without significantly weakening an already weakened team? Point is that AMN was/is way better than any youngster we've had in that position.
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Beattiesballbag added 10:00 - May 6 Vic We have two full backs that could have played & probably have improved the team!
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phillo added 12:05 - May 6 Couple of quality signings (probably need a striker & centre back maybe) & the youngsters we have ...... bit more positive football and things might be ok. If we spend on "journeymen" again then cant see any difference to this season. Think for many this summer & start of next season is a turning point for Mick & our club. IF he shows signs of trusting the youngsters & starting to look at being a bit more positive I for one will start to trust him again. If however we make more "Douglas" signings, farm out the youngsters on loan & start off next season in the same style as now then that will be hard to support. Over to you Mick .....

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muccletonjoe added 13:03 - May 6 We need 3 possibly 4 good signings and i think that would nudge us into the top 6 , especially as we have 3 or 4 academy players coming through.
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Keaneish added 14:07 - May 6 It doesn't matter though does it? You've completely lost the faith of the fans to turn good signings into a team that plays good football so its all arbitrary...
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essexboy added 15:22 - May 6 Well,at least they have said something,whether wev'e heard it or not before I think now they are understanding what the supporters have been saying for a long while.It really would be great if the owner can invest a few million in the summer.Lets hope MM and his side kicks are now thinking about what players they need to bring in during the summer whoever they might be and that the funds are available.I think this season has been a big jolt to the management and given them major food for thought and that things will change during the summer,at least I hope so.

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grumpyoldman added 16:49 - May 6 Didn't we have the same last season, promises that never materialised
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shortmarine1969 added 17:17 - May 6 All sounds great but if i look at it the chances of us being top six next season are slim to none even with a decent amount spent on the first team squad (in the couple of mil bracket...yes 2 is a couple...we can dream..!!!) .looking at the current top six and the 4 teams that provide the 3 that will come down..i really see bu-gger all chance...and lets be honest even if cash is made available it is hardly going to be ( or very unlikely to be) to bring in 3/ 4 quality players..sorry but i see a same level finish even with a bit of outlay as i dont think it will ever be a sufficient amount to move the team forward enough as much as needed

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cats_whiskers added 17:58 - May 6 McCarthy won't sign anyone before July 1st as he stated last year. that the club wouldn't be paying them wages whilst players are on their summer break. Just expect the usual Ipswich media hype about this and that player from next week being 'linked' and 99% of those not materialising.
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wayway added 20:44 - May 6 TractorCam you should change your handle to Harry Hoofball. Do you wash McCarthys car or dig his garden
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Warkys_Tash added 00:11 - May 7 Evans knows he can't go on like this, so two things are likely to happen. One, Nothing, in which Mick will resign, like BFJ did when Sheepers showed him empty pockets. Or two he will give Mick a half decent transfer kitty & Mick will make a decent go of it & we will improve for the play-offs. Despite the sh*** I have witnessed this season, I would give Mick another season. It's all well & good getting in Poyet but we don't have the players to play nice football & win. Fact.Until better quality is in, we won't see it.

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Paddy39 added 11:13 - May 7 Keep Mick, with money he will do the job.
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