Town boss Mick McCarthy says there have been “a few stories which have had a bit of an effect on the place” recently, including reports linking central defender Christophe Berra with a return to Scotland with either Hearts or Rangers, Nottingham Forest’s move to re-sign skipper Luke Chambers on the final day of the January transfer window and weekend opponents Cardiff City’s interest in keeper Dean Gerken.

Berra, Chambers and Gerken are all out of contract at the end of the season but with the Blues having an option to keep them for a further season.

Speaking last week, McCarthy confirmed that owner Marcus Evans is due to hold talks about new terms with Chambers and that Gerken, who we understand was the subject of an enquiry from Cardiff in January, is close to agreeing a new deal.

Gerken now seems likely to have been the player the Bluebirds were interested in swapping for Emyr Huws, who eventually joined the Blues on loan.

Berra has said he will go back to Scotland, where his four-year-old daughter lives, at some stage with a potential return to his hometown club Hearts having been reported on numerous occasions as well as interest from Rangers, who targeted the 32-year-old before he joined the Blues.

“There are rumours about him moving and there have been a few stories which have had a bit of an effect on the place really [that] we don’t need,” McCarthy said.

“Chambo with Forest on deadline day, then there was rumours about Gerks and Cardiff for a time and then Bezza [Berra].

“It does no favours to us, we just want to get enough points. I’m not really interested in that.

“When we’ve got enough points that we are certain we are staying in this league, there are a number of discussions to be had. We’ve got an option on Christophe, so we’ll wait and see.”

Reflecting on Berra, he added: “He’s been one of the best defenders in the league for beyond the four years here because he was the same when he was at Wolves as well.”

Meanwhile, the Blues are again being linked with a summer move for former loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe.

The 24-year-old was previously linked ahead of the January window and, according to the Daily Mail, Town, QPR, Glasgow Rangers, Nottingham Forest, Cardiff, Reading and Huddersfield are all interested in signing him in the summer when his Fulham contract us up, along with Wigan, where the former Manchester United trainee is currently on loan.

Photo: TWTD

Radlett_blue added 17:29 - Mar 15 This is probably a result of the sense of drift that surrounds the club. It seems unsure if Mick will be here next season, so Evans doesn't want to commit to players like Chambers & Berra, whom a new manager doesn't want. If Evans has secretly decided that he would like Mick to go in the summer, no wonder why he didn't spend in January. I hope Evans has his eye on a successor & that the new man is given time to assess the squad & make some decent additions, but given Evans's parsimony in the transfer market, again I doubt it. A difficult season beckons, whether Mick stays or goes.

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Jimmy86 added 17:40 - Mar 15 Not another link with Tunnicliffe!! Move on... He was not that good, when he was here on loan. The fact he was played out of position, wide left, as a result of his work rate, instead of his preferred CM role said it all. We need goals and creativity in midfield and I don't think he provides either in great amount
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NoCanariesAllowed added 17:53 - Mar 15 I'm going to choose to ignore the last paragraph of this story. A) Because it's Ryan Tunnicliffe who I've never particularly rated, and B) Because it says "according to the Daily Mail"...
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blue75 added 17:55 - Mar 15 The only discussion I'm interested in is the one that ends with you leaving our club!!
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stevieiriswattii added 17:57 - Mar 15 Oh I see that's the reason, not the god awful tactics! ;)
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Mark added 18:01 - Mar 15 They are not just baseless stories though are they, as with contacts not renewed by the club this is inevitable. It seems to me however that the attitude of the players in question has been very good.
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poldark added 18:23 - Mar 15 Now blaming press and media
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therein61 added 18:40 - Mar 15 I note that there is/has been no interest in Skuse but Mick would not entertain it!!! entertain?? that is a word he's never heard of!!!!!!! yet he has just told bbc football he has avoided the sack by doing a good job here(he did say up to this season!!!!)
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kozmik added 18:59 - Mar 15 Swap Gerken for Huws!
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RonFearonsHair added 20:01 - Mar 15 The club seem as slow to get anything done off the pitch as they are on it!
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runningout added 21:00 - Mar 15 Shows how unprofessional and sensitive a few are.. To be frank we haven't been inspired by many of our squad to make a difference should we lose some
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BlueandTruesince82 added 21:04 - Mar 15 I'll swap them Gerks for Huws
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ArnieM added 21:52 - Mar 15 Absolutely nothing will happen at this Club until Evans and McCarthy have that frank man to man discussion. If the owner and the manager are unable to agree a future strategy, then Mick will, I suspect, walk away. Personally, I think he will leave anyway. His tenure has gone stale - especially with the can Base, and the loss of further ST holders, has to IMO, see Evans act. Mick, himself has already stated that he wouldn't want to start next season with gates down to 10k, ( because of him), which there is every reasonable expectation that gates will be nearer this mark than 19k. Although things have gone stale with Mick - I've never liked his brand of football. I think ITFC and us fans have a hellava lot to " thank" Mick for, and if he does leave this summer, I would love to think that when Mick walks round that pitch at PR on the last home game this season, that the SBR stand really made their appreciation of his efforts on b***** all funds, known. He deserves that frankly. Life is far too short to bare any grudges against a man who has tried his best with all four limbs tied firmly behind his back. Ipswich fans should be better than the fickle, money orientated, success at any cost, ethos, that prevails, and that has ruined the beautiful game in this Country. It would be a refreshing change if we could part company from Mick with a respectful acknowledgement that he tried his best , but it just wasn't to be. For Evans however, he really needs to be more transparent about his real aims/ plans and future intentions for ITFC. For him it's a business, whilst for us , it's a way of life - a sense of belonging. He needs to respect that or move on. Ipswich Town is my life, my Club, and it will be here long after Mick McCarthy, Marcus Evans, or the players. ........." Spirit in the Sky" should become our anthem, because it says it all about being a Town fan. COYBs

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No32 added 23:00 - Mar 15 Sorry...?!??! Did I read that right? We stalled on a swap deal geeked and Huws? I'd swap Gerken for the Cardiff under 12's GK.... Amongst the 30 season ticket holders I sit with Gerkin shouldn't even be playing for the reserves. Fag of a keeper...
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Superblue95 added 02:00 - Mar 16 We wouldn't swap gerken for huws? That's the sort of thing that just makes you want to cry. I'd happily swap gerken for a gherkin and I can't stand them
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PutneyBlue added 13:20 - Mar 16 Radlett blue. We may not have splashed the cash to bring in some overpriced starlets, but we did bring in 7 new players in January, with one or two making a real impact. I think you have to give credit to MM for spotting bargains. Just think what he could do with a competitive budget.
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Seasider added 14:32 - Mar 16 Fancy not swapping his favourite Gerks for Huws,bad move Mick
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TotalBlue added 15:21 - Mar 16 ArnieM Well said I think it is time for a new approach and new person at the helm but that does not mean McCarthy has done a bad job he has steadied the ship and who ever takes over has a decent base to go from I honestly believe had Mick not come here we would of gone down and would of still been down in league one now. He will always have my gratitude for the first season and the play offs but now a young and fresh manager is needed...

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Blue_Moses added 15:26 - Mar 16 'Bezza'...
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Wickets added 14:52 - Mar 17 There is always links to players from other clubs managers just have to manage that. My theory's as to why Mick has not as yet committed himself to be Town manager for next season, well 2 reasons really. He dreams that another club where he would be allowed to spend a bob or two will come in for him and failing that an even bigger dream that Mr. Evans might just give him a bigger budget so we have a decent chance of being a top 6 club. Good luck with that Mick!

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