Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that the Blues will be taking up the options to keep skipper Luke Chambers and fellow centre-half Christophe Berra for a further season.

The duo's contracts were due to end this summer but with the club having an option to extend those terms for a further season which must be taken up by May 1st.

Chambers was the subject of interest from his former club Nottingham Forest in January, while Berra has been repeatedly linked with one of his previous clubs, Hearts, along with Rangers.

“Their options will be exercised and then we can deal with it afterwards,” McCarthy said.

“Whether there’s any negotiation over and beyond that one-year option, that’s for them and their agents to talk to Marcus about.”

Has he had a chance to talk to them to find out whether they would like to stay? “Chambo, of course [he would], but Christophe, it’s been well publicised that he has a commitment up in Edinburgh with his daughter and he’d like to be there. But we’ve an option on him.

“That’s not the easiest thing just to do because he’s been a really fantastic player for us, he’s been a stalwart.

“Whenever he’s been fit, he’s played, pretty much. So I’ll leave that with Marcus. Of course, I’ve spoken to them.”

McCarthy says he’s yet to hold his main discussion with owner Marcus Evans regarding the budget and plans for next season, although we understand the pair met over the weekend.

“We’ve only been talking around it at the moment and I’ll sit down with him after the Forest game and discuss it then,” he added.

Photo: TWTD

Bluetone added 16:40 - Apr 27 First item on the agenda for his meeting with Marcus should be McCarthy's departure.
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Dalty added 17:02 - Apr 27 cat - Haha fair point, think we've had eight defensive players starting on more than one occasion too. Hopefully with a fit Webster and the likely loss of a few of our more defensively minded midfielders we'll see less of that next season, regardless of who the manager is.
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happybeingblue added 17:17 - Apr 27 dear oh dear cant believe fans are made up by this one, what happened to changing the team?? with these 2 in the back 4 its going to be more endless wallops up the field to no one , this season has proved they are not good enough , both too slow, no distribution,they are ok up against big guys like murphy but ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE ffs
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Len_Brennan added 17:25 - Apr 27 I'd like to see a back 3 of Chambers, Webster & Smith. I know Chambers would be expected to play in the middle due to his strength & experience, but having more of a footballer in the middle, given licence to bring the ball out of the defence as the other 2 shut up shop behind him, is a fair more appealing thought. Berra is definitely off; taking up the option is a business decision so as to get a fee off Rangers or Hearts. Considering all the contracts we have paid up and money lost on really poor players over the last few years, Berra is one guy that I think we could have said "Thanks for all you've done for the club over the last few years, off you go as a free agent with our best wishes. Enjoy getting to spend more time with your daughter"

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Ipswichbusiness added 17:57 - Apr 27 My favourite back line would be Emmanuel, Chambers, Berra (or Smith), Kenlock with Webster playing holding midfielder or libero in place of the likes of Skuse and Douglas. That said, I do not believe in trying to keep people against their will. If a deal can be done, do it.
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DirtyOldNodger added 18:09 - Apr 27 Deserved on both counts. Well done Chambo and Berra. Both have been ever present and have worked hard no matter the position they've played in. Have a sneaking suspicion both of them will move on in the summer. If that's the case then its a good bit of business for the club, as its likely a fee will be involved if either player moved on. Not quite sure what all the moans and groans are about. Any excuse I suppose!

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cat added 18:13 - Apr 27 To all of those who are advocates of 3 Center backs, do you not realise that this is probably the most defensive and negative formation there is going??? It might have worked in February when we hit rock bottom and we desperately needed to grinned out results, but from an entertainment point of view, get real!! It might work for Chelsea, or Arsenal of late, but they have the players who can retain possession and pass there way up field, when your simply clearing your lines (or hoofing) your inviting the opposition back on, our wing backs get sucked back in, then your effectively playing with 8 at the back, ring any bells????

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jas0999 added 18:22 - Apr 27 Good news about Chambers, but if Berra is desperate to move does it stop him doing so? I do hope we haven't done it so a fee can be agreed to sell him to hearts ...
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cornishblu added 18:22 - Apr 27 Berra a liability and if MM sticks with chambers and Berra in a back five only room for either of Webster /smith .....get shot of Berra put Webster smith and chambers in the back 3 ....youngsters to then back this upn
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jas0999 added 18:23 - Apr 27 Also, why leave it so late? Doesn't seem fair on the players ... Typical Evans?
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Brownie added 18:38 - Apr 27 Four central defenders of Berra, Webster, Chambers & Smith fighting for starting places must surely be good news?
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Mark added 18:44 - Apr 27 I still think Berra is the strongest defender we have in the air, and he is worth keeping. He doesn't like playing on the left of a back three though, that's for sure.
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walberblue added 19:10 - Apr 27 what does this statement mean if they want to leave?? but then again who'd want to leave "easy street"?
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Hegansheroes added 22:07 - Apr 27 I thought Smith was our best defender whilst being played out of position until his back op. Certainly passionate about ITFC. Berra has been a liability and Chambers is the king of hoof ball. At least Smith manages about 6 goals a season. Play Webster on the right & Smith left with 2 proper fullbacks which I think we have. Wouldn't be surprised to see Tommy move on sometime soon, never been the Twxt managers favourite.

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harlingblue added 03:17 - Apr 28 Chambers and Berra are both solid centre backs as is Smith, our midfield has been our failure. Webster, comfortable on the ball, could be more than a centreback and become a defensive playmaker? Webster, Huws and Ward in midfield?
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