Town centre-half Christophe Berra could leave the Blues this month and return to his former club Hearts, according to a report in Scotland.

The Edinburgh Evening News reports that the Edinburgh club are keen to move for the 31-year-old if he is able to negotiate a settlement of the final six months of his Blues contract. Talks regarding a severance package are said to be under way.

Scotland international Berra began his career with hometown club Hearts before Town boss Mick McCarthy took the 6ft 1in tall defender to Wolves in February 2009 for a fee of £2.3 million, then signed him on a Bosman when Town manager in the summer of 2013.

Berra has been a regular throughout his time with the Blues and has made 166 starts and one sub appearance, scoring 13 times.

Speaking in September, Berra confirmed that he is looking to return home to Scotland at some stage, however, it would come as a surprise if he were to move on in January, particularly with Tommy Smith, Town’s only other senior left-sided centre-half, still a little way off a return following back surgery.

If Berra, who scored the second goal in yesterday’s 3-2 victory over Blackburn, does move on the Blues would certainly be looking for a replacement.

Meanwhile, The Sun reports that Town owner Marcus Evans is funding a “January spending spree” as he is concerned manager Mick McCarthy might move on at the end of the season and is hoping to convince him to stay.

Speaking yesterday, McCarthy said he had made a number of one million pound-plus offers for players but so far without being able to add to £10,000 recruit Kieffer Moore, whose signing from Forest Green Rovers was confirmed last night.

“We’ve had three or four one million pound-plus bids in for players, but they’ve all been kiboshed,” he said.

“We’re still working on them and trying to do them, but if they’re too expensive I can’t do owt about it.”

McCarthy is contracted to Town until the summer of 2018 with the club having an option for two more seasons.

Photo: TWTD

StowTractorBoy added 17:21 - Jan 15 Harsh comments as usual on here about a real good servant to the Club. Yes he has made mistakes of late but he has been a rock for us since he joined. If Hearts want him now, then they should pay for him. At the very least Hearts should pay up his contract. I personally hope he sees out his contract as we are already struggling to get bodies into this Club.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 17:29 - Jan 15 I think what it probably means is Town would have to pay him for the remaining 6 months if he stayed, however if we agree to release him there would be an agreement from Berra to accept a reduction in the final payment of his wages (that his contract entitled him too) E.G. He would perhaps accept 3 months money to agree the end of his contract early, he gets out of his contract 6 months early with 3 months money, we save 3 months wages, which we would of had to pay anyway because of his contract. I stand corrected, but that's how I understand it....

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therein61 added 17:39 - Jan 15 He has been a big player for us with one outstanding season which I feel was his peak(sadly that appears to not be recoverable) therefore I say good luck to him if he wants to go home he has another 4 years in Scotland sadly not here best wishes big man and thank you! now all we need is Tommy back and beside Webster and we have our first choice centre back pairing for a few years that we can build on with Josh and Kenlock either side of them with Chambo(if he is still here) and Knudsen as back up, then get rid of Skuse who scares the hell out of the back four always playing them into trouble, then I believe we would be more positive than negative!!

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jas0999 added 18:01 - Jan 15 Lets be honest, this would be a great move for home. Chance to take his family back home. Who wouldn't want to go? I'd certainly wish him well. However, we would need to gave a good championship experienced permanent signing lined up to replace him. Loan no good. We need to be building a team for next year n'daw it would seem Berra won't be part of it.
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therein61 added 18:03 - Jan 15 Regarding the comments about his gall to negotiate a pay off, how many fly by nights has he watched having their contracts paid up(costing us shed loads the trouble causing Taylor being a prime example) over his time here while he has gone quietly doing his utmost in a blue shirt(credit to him for that) and is worth the 6 month pay off compared!!!
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Mark added 18:10 - Jan 15 I believe we even paid Damien Delaney to leave in 2012 (www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/21356/delaney-in-exit-talks). A few days later he joined Crystal Palace and is now still playing in the Premier League for them. It goes to highlight how poorly ITFC has been run.
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martin587 added 18:21 - Jan 15 IF the lad wants to return home with his family then let him go.What is the point in keeping an unhappy player for six months. He's been a very good servant over the years,although a little dodgy this season. As iv'e said previously if it is infact true.!
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itfcgene added 18:29 - Jan 15 Not sure I follow. He wants to leave, but we have to pay him to leave, to go to play for a team who want him, but can't afford him.
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ChestnutSe added 19:06 - Jan 15 I hope he stays till the end of this season at least. A really good Championship centre half, Mr Dependable at the back for us and a huge miss when he does go. Be great to have Tommy fit to slot in as a replacement but no guarantee he will be match fit after serious back operation till next season.
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 19:33 - Jan 15 The fact is the club OWE Berra the remainder of his contract. If that's (Plucking a figure out of the air) £10K a week then ITFC owe Berra £250,000 as long as he trains but no matter how well he plays. We could be beligerent and demand a fee, Hearts can then just say "Noo thanks Jimmy, we'll have him for free next year" and we'll have an unhappy defender, not playing with his heart in it for £250,000. Alternatively we can do a deal with Berra, we'll give you £125,000 (Again figure plucked out of the air) and you can go now and we'll have an aditional £5K a week to throw at his replacement/a loan this season. The issue goes back to keeping our best players through thier contracts, if you want to be a club that sells players like Berra then you have to sell them with years to go on thier contracts (like Mings and Cresswell). You could argue that we should be renewing contracts more often but each time you do, it costs significant amounts of money to agents, solicitors and not mention (if a players feels you want him enough to renew his contract) a pay rise. This is all assuming the story is true! PS: After Brexit happens, it's not clear if we will have Bosman's or not. If not, we could keep him (even after his contract expires) until someone stumps up some cash to take him! Just like the good old days!

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madmouse1959 added 20:22 - Jan 15 Why not do the easy thing ? Can not understand what he was doing when he lost the ball for Blackburns equalizer. He only had to pass it to a blue shirt but he mysteriously got himself bogged down near the corner flag and was still on his knees when they had scored. Sorry, thank you and all that, but he has to go.
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rickw added 20:48 - Jan 15 I miss-read this at first - I thought it was Hearts giving us compensation for him - why on earth would we give him money to leave???? If he wants to go to Hearts and they want him then they can pay for him, 500k would be fair, despite his recent mistakes he's been virtually ever present for Ipswich and is a current Scotland international
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oldbri added 20:57 - Jan 15 Opinion seems to be split on Berra leaving so can I suggest a referendum on it.We could call it a Berraexit referendum. We could use his wages to bolster the NHS and everything would then be okykoky . Just an idea. Lol.
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gippeswyk added 23:07 - Jan 15 We are luck to have Berra. He has been a very hardworking and loyal servant to the club and how he hasn't been poached I don't know. He is always thoroughly shattered at the end of every game and gives his all. He has a couple more years left at this level and I prefer him to Luke and Tommy.
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 23:38 - Jan 15 Rickw - seriously, what don't you understand? read my above post, we can make him stay but we'll have to pay him MORE before the end of the season and having blocked a move he's got his heart set on, he won't be all that motivated either. This is why you often hear pundits saying " You can't keep a player when he want's to go." Assuming the story is true, of course.

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Fat_Boy_Tim added 23:48 - Jan 15 Cards on the table, I want Berra to stay, I think as a back 3, any 3 of Berra, Smith, Chambers and Webster is good in this division. MM has opted to go with a back 3 now and I assume it's not a fad, he's going to try it till the end of the season (I have thought we had the players to do this for while). This will mean he's got to be thinking of replacing Berra if he goes. Another thing, at 31 Berra is in his prime for a modern centre half. McCauley and Delaney are still going, in the Premier League, at 37 and 35 respectively.

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GiveusaWave added 02:43 - Jan 16 Good servant to the club and vital at the back, particularly if we pick up an injury. Digby nowhere near as good and Fowler et al not yet ready for first team football. Obviously Moore can play there but he's used to a much lower level of football.
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GiveusaWave added 03:46 - Jan 16 I am going to add an obvious point to my previous one. We shouldn't be looking to lose players in an already very small squad. We have 26 first team players (I am including Moore in the first team). Compared to other FIRST TEAM squads (only including 1st teams): Burton Albion have 28, Blackburn 42, Wigan 29, Derby 35, Norwich 30, Brighton 29, Leeds 30, Bristol City 29, Forest 34, Newcastle 30, Huddersfield 28, Wednesday 30 etc etc. It seems the average Championship first team squad is between 28-30. Many of these teams have many more reserve players. Rotherham have less (24) and Brentford have 26. Obviously, we are not that short but should be bringing players in not letting players out.

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dangerous30 added 06:48 - Jan 16 Why not move chambers into that position and buy a younger lower league defender and bed them in, if Berra wants too leave let's say thank you and let him go.
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Cookycrew added 08:37 - Jan 16 Has been an Excellent defender & an excellent servant for this club. He reads the game so well (and has bailed out Knudsen countless times). Yes, he has made recent mistakes....er but many others have too. A real class player and I very much will wish him every success if he wishes to move back home.
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wherescounago added 09:07 - Jan 16 It was rumoured months ago that for personal reasons he wanted a return to Scotland, if that is true I hope he gets it sorted out ASAP. Thanks Christophe but your mind hasn't been in the right place recently, so if you do go Good Luck for the future.
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Michael11 added 09:25 - Jan 16 Been a fantastic servant for the club and we should respect his wishes to return home but only if we can find a suitable replacement and not have another Murph situation. He's really declined this season and when Smith is fit we'll be fine without him.
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Razor added 11:17 - Jan 16 Not sure how near Tiommy is back to a full return but with 2 good lads in Kenlock and Emmanuel we can just move Chambo across to where he is happiest----we even got a fist pump on Saturday!!
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Seasider added 16:02 - Jan 16 Think Knudsen could well play left centre back with Kenlock as wing back;so Mick does have options even when Tommy is out. If he went now though would be a bit pushed as just learnt that Kenlock has had a setback
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