Town boss Mick McCarthy says his fourth striker signing is more likely to be a loan player and revealed he made enquiries regarding West Ham’s Ashley Fletcher, who is set to join Middlesbrough in a £7 million permanent deal, and Chelsea’s Iké Ugbo, who will spend the season with Barnsley. TWTD revealed that Fletcher was on McCarthy’s wish-list a year ago.

Asked whether he was any nearer to making a signing at today’s Open Day, McCarthy said: “We’re still trying, we’re working hard at it but as is everybody else.

“And then you see Middlesbrough spending £7 million on Ashley Fletcher. Me, like a pillock, am ringing up about trying to take him on loan. I asked in the last window and I asked this year.

“I was speaking to somebody yesterday, to his agent, whether that’s come completely out of the blue I don’t think so. He must have been laughing right up his sleeve at me asking to take him on loan.”

The Championship has seen higher than ever fees paid out this summer with players such as Ruben Neves, who has joined Wolves from FC Porto, moving for as much as £15 million.

“And that was or a holding midfield player, that’s what it was,” McCarthy reflected. “I’m amazed. I don’t know how it can continue or be sustained. I know that teams that have come down, Norwich and Villa have still got a hefty parachute payment, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Hull have got their parachute payments.

“But then you still look at other teams, Sheffield Wednesday haven’t had a parachute payment for a long time and they spent £10 million in the last window.

“Bristol City spent £5 million on a striker recently and spent last year as well. If I go through them you’d think there’s not that many that haven’t.

“But I said to the lads today, it doesn’t matter what they’re spending, there are a few who haven’t. Barnsley won’t be spending, QPR haven’t spent, they’ve an enquiry pending on whether they’re going to get a £66 million [FFP] fine, where that figure comes from God only knows. We’ve just got to do it the way we do it and we’ll be competitive.”

Does he see that as a motivating factor for his squad, which has been assembled rather more modestly?

“The players know what’s going on, it’s more about us than what other people do,” he added. “I’m not so sure that’s a motivating factor. Some of them might think ‘I wouldn’t mind a £7 million move to Boro as well’, it could be demotivating that! I’m just telling you the way it is, it’s bonkers the way it is.”

Does he expect there to be a domino effect in the market for strikers, one becoming available as another joins their club?

“Possibly, there are strikers who are coming back. Barnsley signed Iké Ugbo, I asked about him at the end of last season, spoke to his agent, spoke to Chelsea. I think Barnsley have promised him to play, he scored two goals on his debut.

“I wouldn’t promise anyone to play because that’s nonsense. We might be two games in and they’re playing hopeless, I’m not going to keep playing them, that’s for certain.

“He’s a really good player. There are other strikers, they’re at Premier League clubs and they’re all waiting until they come back from pre-season and then they’ll start letting them out, but that won’t be before the season starts.”

The Town boss confirmed that the Blues making a loan signing is more likely - “Yes” - and said there has been no interest in any of his players.

Young striker Shane McLoughlin played for Braintree in a friendly against Barnet on Tuesday but McCarthy says there’s been no word on whether the Iron want to take the 20-year-old Irishman on loan, while young defender Chris Smith is currently with another National League side.

“I’ve not heard whether they want him or not. Chris Smith’s gone to play for Bromley, is training with Bromley.

“If we can get those lads out to National League clubs I’ll do it. Even when we start back, if the window’s shut, they might have to go and play in the National League for a month, and that doesn’t have to be the kids either. It’s a good place to have a month’s football because it’s bloody competitive.”

Is Luke Hyam a more senior player who might go out on loan to a National League club? “I didn’t say that. I’m hoping he’s going to be out [training] shortly, to be honest with you.”

McCarthy confirmed that 18-year-old Pat Webber won't be joining Aldershot, where is spent time on trial recently: “Pat’s not going to Aldershot.”

Photo: TWTD

PortmanTerrorist added 15:15 - Jul 27 Of course
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homer_123 added 15:16 - Jul 27 Might want to sort out the hyperlink situ there Phil....
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TotalBlue added 15:17 - Jul 27 As long as its a loan with no recall I guess we will have to accept that. Just a quick on for you Phil youve not closed an anchor tag the whole article is a link...
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BobbyBell added 15:20 - Jul 27 Can't say there's anything surprising in this. Disappointing but half expected.
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rugbytomc added 15:20 - Jul 27 Why exactly aren't we spending between 3-5m on hugill? Or instead of a loan giving monty Patterson or ben Morris some game time?
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cat added 15:22 - Jul 27 Looks like it's a tall order signing a striker, I've no problem with getting a loan in, we will probably get a better caliber of player that way. Either way, a striker is definitely required.
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Wacko added 15:29 - Jul 27 It doesn't have to be crazy money - a lot of clubs are also finding affordable gems abroad
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carsey added 15:32 - Jul 27 I am not a McCarthy fan and never have been but on this occasion I am inclined to suggest the only person who can rectify this problem is Evans. He either chucks a loads of money at McCarthy and allows him to go buy a proven striker who will get us some goals or we will be fannying around lower to mid-table again.
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martin587 added 15:34 - Jul 27 Money being paid for average players now is verging on ridiculous.We don't have that money so a loan it must be.Possibly only cover now anyway so why spend big.Lets see where we are at the end of the year.🤔
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itfcserbia added 15:35 - Jul 27 Well I would love ME to spend more, as most of us surely would, but £7 million for Ashley Fletcher?! It's a mad mad world...
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mutters added 15:40 - Jul 27 As much as i'd like a new striker, paying many millions for one is crazy. Something will go pop soon, Wolves spending 15 million for one is just mad., pure and simple. We have been active, got players in early, now we supplement the squad with loads / freebies. Sounds like a sensible plan to me to a club that loses money each year.
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essextractorboy93 added 15:41 - Jul 27 Prices nowadays are getting crazy, for example Middlesbrough bought Assombalonga from Forest for 15 million and West Ham bought Javier Hernandez for 16 million, only 1 million more for a top class striker. Unfortunately transfers like Pogba have completely distorted the whole transfer market. Not sure who is available on loan from Premier League clubs but more players will become available once the season starts. We signed Lawrence late into August last season so hopefully we will have similar success with a loan signing this window.

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OldClactonBlue added 15:44 - Jul 27 Might be true mutters but doesn't provide much confidence that it will be a successful season!
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trevski added 15:46 - Jul 27 To be honest (and I will probably receive criticism for this) I don't honestly mind if it is a year long loan signing (with no recall clause). As much as I would prefer getting a permanent signing in, I just now want to get a goal scorer in. With the season starting soon at least we can say we have someone in and then make that top priority during the next transfer window or even at the end of the season. You never know Moore could really prove himself at Rotherham and Morris waiting in the wings as well still needing that experience. Or even the loanee that we get in could be the main priority to sign. Just start looking outside of the UK and find some gems we know Mick can find them sometimes

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BlueandTruesince82 added 15:47 - Jul 27 Fletcher scored 1 goal for West Ham and about half a dozen on loan for Barnsley and he's worth £7 mil! Definitely don't need to be taking players on the basis they are guaranteed to play. If it's a perm we be to be looking at lower lge to step up to be affordable nut that rather takes the proven element out of it. I keep saying it but Sam Gallagher if it's a loan for me would be a good shout. What has happened to FFP in this division? Football authorities are a joke.

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brian_a_mul added 15:49 - Jul 27 Let them waste millions on unproven players, unfortunately it will probably come back to haunt them. 15mil for a portuguese holding midfield player??? Seriously!!?? He also picked up what could be a significant injury on Saturday "On Saturday, the club-record signing was forced off during the early stages of the 2-0 defeat to Shrewsbury Town, and he left the League One outfit's ground wearing a protective boot on his ankle"

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horsehollerer added 15:56 - Jul 27 At this point, and in this silly market, a loan is the right way to go. No point throwing millions at signing a permanent striker who maybe wouldn't even have been on our wish list until now. Would've been nice to get Ugbo, though.
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Garv added 15:57 - Jul 27 Skuse is hopeless and he plays every game?
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OohOohSamassiAbou added 16:02 - Jul 27 I wonder if Chris Smith will stay in McCarthy's spare room while on loan at Bromley
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PortmanTerrorist added 16:04 - Jul 27 Nahki Wells for $10m anyone ?
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Lightningboy added 16:07 - Jul 27 So in a few days we've gone from (almost) definitely signing a new striker before the opening day to maybe signing one on loan? What are our scouts doing these days?...do we even have any in europe anymore?..how come we didn't make an offer for Marquis?..why have we let Pitman go before signing a replacement? Season's not even started but we're right back with the usual rollocks already 🙄 Better hope Garner,Sears & McGoldrick stay fit.

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runningout added 16:09 - Jul 27 Whoever is responsible for bringing in players needs to have a word with themselves.. I'm unsure if they are a true representative of the club. Should be done with more heart
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alfromcol added 16:11 - Jul 27 I see Benyu is playing Champions League football for Celtic now!! Bit of a step up.
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tractorboybig added 16:12 - Jul 27 because some dickhead pays 7 million for a second rate play does not mean that player is any good* Move on. Sears should be number 9 and lead the line not ponce about here there and everywhere.
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iaintaylorx added 16:17 - Jul 27 Money is ruining football and something needs to be done to stop it. £7M for Ashley Fletcher who hasn't proven himself anywhere, is just absolutely obscene! We can't compete with that at all, but lets hope we get someone that can make that No.9 shirt his own!!
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