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

BlueandTruesince82 added 16:17 - Jul 27 Would love Wells but not at 10 mill. Lighting boy, Micks probably waiting for this year's edition of Champ manager to be released before he starts scouting foreign climates
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 16:19 - Jul 27 Prices will not be dropping anytime soon. A loan of an unheard of fringe player from a premier league team is short termism and will be expensive with conditions attached whereas the right investment in a decent lower league striker can help us both in the short and long term.
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runningout added 16:22 - Jul 27 Although if we were willing to spend plenty, because the illustrious ME is able! I wouldn't wish it to be blown on Mr Average like a few have done
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notoriousITFC added 16:25 - Jul 27 Yes there are 'bonkers' fees being paid, but lots of good business too. We are one dimensional in the transfer market and must be one of the least ambitious clubs in the league. I found this interesting from Stuart Watson: Here are the strikers signed by @SkyBetChamp clubs so far this summer. Gives an idea of what #itfc up against. Not all 'bonkers' fees. pic.twitter.com/BmRuLt41fn — Stuart Watson (@Stuart_Watson) July 27, 2017

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classicblue added 16:32 - Jul 27 This surely demonstrates the folly of letting Pitman leave. We will be lucky to find anyone who is half as good. ME and MM need their heads examined
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 16:35 - Jul 27 Some of those fees are not 'bonkers'. Some are free transfers and most of the foreign players are fairly low fees. It begs the question; What are our scouts doing? should be plently to chose from.
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Mark added 16:39 - Jul 27 What annoys me most about the vast transfer fees is that we do not have anyone to sell for 'bonkers' fees because we have not invested properly in young players. Ward and Webster were a start, but why not sign more players in their early 20s? That is our stated 5 year plan, but we are not doing it. If we sold someone for £15M we could be more competitive financially, but need the right young players to develop. Also, I fees for strikers are so astronomical why was Pitman released on a free?

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ShropshireBluenago09 added 16:43 - Jul 27 Pitman was in a huff as he wasnt getting 1st team football and was at the end of last season 4th / 5th choice. Would rather Morris get a game now.
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yungblue added 16:43 - Jul 27 £7 million for a player who has only ever scored for one season in League 1 in nonsense. Saying that with Middlesbrough Brainthwaite, Assombalonga, Fletcher and Bamford, could leave the door open for Rudy Gestede to move. He is a massive striker who has causes nothing but problems at this level
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Pilgrimblue added 16:44 - Jul 27 I agree B&T where is FFS? It's all gone mad and they can't all succeed so there's going to be tears. As for our young strikers, I don't think either Morris or Patterson are good enough so expect both to go on loan to Braintree or similar. Who's going to be surplus in Prem, Nugent!
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Paulc added 16:55 - Jul 27 The thing is we could easily go out and spunk £5m on a bang average striker (that's where the market seems to be at present) and if he turns out to be a twonk we're up slack alley. The loan market seems a better option, you get a £5m rated player, for nothing (wages aside, which you still have to pay if you own the player) and if he's crap you send him back (or stuck until end of loan period). The only downside is if he turns out to be a genius, he goes back at end of loan period and we're priced out (a la Tom Lawrence). Mick can be a bit of a bell sometimes, but he is bang right with this assessment.

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therein61 added 17:11 - Jul 27 Re your comment Mark how do we know how good our youngsters are and if they could be worth money in the future if our great blinkered leader won't give them game time.
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TimmyH added 17:26 - Jul 27 Yes money is ruining football and it's slowly seeping down into the Championship through the ludicrous parachute payments but as others have said what do our scouts do!?!, do we have any?...seems a bit pointless now letting Pitman go now so it must be about freeing up wages.
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TimmyH added 17:28 - Jul 27 By the way not sure if Pitman was released on a free...yet another 'undisclosed' fee and what that was God knows!
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ronnyd added 17:35 - Jul 27 The only voice of reason in the Prem at the moment is Levy of Spurs. The rest of the top of the the Prem seem to be trying to outdo each other. Sadly it seems to have filtered down to the Championship and beyond. We can,t compete with that. See that the Chinese appear to have tried to put their house in order but it,s still huge money. Football is in danger of strangling itself.

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Len_Brennan added 17:35 - Jul 27 As I read the comments from Mick above on Fletcher, I'm sort of getting the impression that he had received encouragement from somebody (the agent) about getting him on a loan deal. Maybe that's why he was more direct than usual about having a striker in place for the kick off in yesterday's story. The line "whether that's come completely out of the blue I don't think so" and also referring to himself and as "a pillock" certainly sounds as though he has been caught by surprise with Fletcher's permanent transfer.

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Green_Army added 17:53 - Jul 27 “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." errmmm Douglas?
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warktheline added 18:11 - Jul 27 When McCarthy walked in at Portman Rd the club was a ruddy mess and in total disarray! Evans had thrown money at achieving success and it failed miserably! My point is this, surely both men sat down and reached some conclusion about the way forward for the club! As for all to see over the last 4 years, Evans had obviously decided 'his' money was no longer available to spend on players, thus surely 'youth' must have been discussed! When are we to see our youth flourish? Is there any truly promising youth coming through? Mings aside, and of course Webster, why aren't our scouts finding potential young gems? Are these young lads being offered up to McCarthy, but not 'fitting' into his template ? Even when a 'gamble' is taken, most fail to make an impression ! 4 years is a long time to make positive infrastructure changes, but I'm failing to see a promising future! When McCarthy moves on, will he have left the club in a healthy state?

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jas0999 added 18:17 - Jul 27 Inevitable. Loans and frees is the norm. Couple of permanent fee signings very welcome, but overall long term strategy seems to be loans. It's not for me I'm afraid, but each to their own.
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warktheline added 18:32 - Jul 27 Many banging on about silly price tags of players, let's not forget Mings was sold for eight million or so, club wasn't complaining then, difference is our club won't reinvest!
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ronnyd added 18:44 - Jul 27 If Kyle Walker (ok going forward but dodgy at defending) is worth nearly 60mil then if Mings steps up he might be a bargain at 8mil.
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ronnyd added 18:53 - Jul 27 Apologies, Walker was 45mil not the near 60 that i first alluded to.
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Brownie added 19:08 - Jul 27 At the risk of repeating myself from previous blogs & posts Mr Evans as owner has to balance the books. He has done that by selling approximately £15m worth of players in the last 3 years. If we want to go upwards rather than the opposite that needs to change - buy some players, get some good young ones coming through, use the loan market well & have a manager that will utilise all of the above. I would argue with have some good youngsters & some loans have been excellent but have not achieved anything else on the list. Some investment has been made but more is required. Oh and not selling you best goal scorer 2 days before the window closes is also worth considering.,

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bigolconnor added 19:13 - Jul 27 Sears and Garner up top with McGoldrick just behind. Sounds pretty good to me. Sears needs a run and DG needs to not get injured. Then we have a New Zealand international and some other youths as back up. Sod it, why not just give that a go. Make a waste of money knee jerk purchase in January if that doesn't work. If an unproven striker is worth £7 million , imagine how much a proven 20 a season striker would be?!

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BlueMachines added 19:33 - Jul 27 We should be looking to sign the best from Leagues 1 and 2. It's our only hope with our financial situation. It fits with the 5 point plan. Why are we looking at loans? MM is still full of bullsh!t even if the money situation isn't his fault.
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