Blues keeper Bartosz Bialkowski says he won’t be going anywhere in the final days of the transfer window and has reiterated that he’d be happy to see out the rest of his career at Portman Road.

The summer transfer window closes at 11pm on Thursday with Town boss Mick McCarthy understood to be looking to bring in only another central defender.

Bialkowski says the Blues manager won’t have to add another keeper to his late window list of targets.

“I’m loving life in Ipswich and playing for this club," he said. "I’m happy with my contract and I can promise Ipswich fans I will still be here next game.

“I know in football you never really know what’s round the corner but as far as I’m concerned I want to stay here forever.

“I’m going abroad on Wednesday for a couple of days with my family to enjoy myself. I’m 100 per cent staying with Ipswich.

“I feel happy and sorted here. My family is happy here and I will do everything I can to keep them happy.”

Town fans had braced themselves for close season interest in Bialkowski, the club’s Player of the Year for the last two seasons, with the former Southampton and Notts County man having revealed that the Blues received enquiries from a number of clubs in January, Premier League Burnley among them.

But, despite Wolves being keen earlier in the summer when we understand they were quoted a £5 million fee, Bialkowski, who is contracted to the Blues for another season with the club having an option for a further year, remains a Town player going into the window’s final few days.

The keeper, who has previously stated he'd be open to extending his Blues contract, believes Town can take a lot of pluses from the first month of the season, despite Saturday’s 2-0 home loss to Fulham in his 100th league appearance for the club.

“They showed some quality and deserved to win,” Bialkowski said of the Cottagers who dominated Saturday’s match and might have won more convincingly.

“Fulham are the best team we have played this season. It was the same last season when they beat us twice. But we can take a lot of positives from the month though with the four league wins.

“Fulham have not had a good start but unfortunately for us they turned up here with a hunger and desire to win this game. They played well and took their chances so well done to them.

“The youngsters will learn from their mistakes and will benefit in the future. That said they have been fantastic. Jonas [Knudsen] was great again, as was Jordan [Spence], and even though they were out of position they did a great job really.”

The 30-year-old says he and his team-mates, who are second in the table behind Cardiff, now the only side in the division with a 100 per cent record, would have taken their August points haul had it been offered to them on the opening day, particularly given the illness and injury situation.

“If you had said to me we would have 12 points going into the international break I would have taken it,” he added. “We have built a great platform to go on from, which has to be good.

“It has been a tough month so it will be good to get a rest and recharge, then we have another tough month with six games in a short space of time. We need to rest and make sure we are ready for another crazy month and stay high in the table.

“We have been really unlucky with injuries and illness, I never seen anything like it throughout my career.

“It was bad enough to lose all three centre-halves, then it has been midfielders, all together we have lost 11 first team players.

“At least this break will give us time to get many players back fit. That means we will come back in September, even better, stronger and ready to go again."

Neeskens Kebano, scorer of Fulham’s opening goal, was pleased to score but even more delighted that his now-14th-placed-team claimed their first Championship victory of the season after three draws and a defeat in their previous matches.

“We played really well, we passed a lot, we had the possession, but even better, we scored when we needed to,” he said.

“I’m very happy with my goal, but I’m even happier we got our first win. That was important for all of us; the players, the staff and the fans.

“It was important to get our first win. We have played well enough in games but we didn’t really do what we can do. This time we did."

Photo: TWTD

Kulturarv added 06:25 - Aug 28 YES!!!
8

biggsie_blue added 06:45 - Aug 28 Mr Evans please rip up his contract and give him a nice new long term one to sign and a few extra pounds to reward him for his loyalty and great work.
26

bluemike1969 added 06:50 - Aug 28 And that's why we love Bart. He's committed to the club, he's an excellent keeper and he wants to see out his career with us! If there is a more committed town player, I have no idea who it is! Bart, you are one of us and a town legend in the making if you aren't already. None of this kissing the badge crap....just honest talking
29

SpiritOfJohn added 07:03 - Aug 28 Played 5 and won 3 MoM awards already this season. I haven't seen a busier or better Town keeper in my 40+ years of supporting Ipswich. £5 million would be a drop in the ocean for some clubs. Bart clearly wants to stay so please do not sell our greatest asset!
17

mojo added 07:27 - Aug 28 Great news. I think 5 mil, if correct is too low given the current climate and the fact that there is a sell on clause.
7

muccletonjoe added 07:33 - Aug 28 Yet again on saturday he kept the score down with 2 or 3 magnificent saves. Glad he is settled here and wants to stay as is every town fan .
8

mickeyjb added 07:52 - Aug 28 And still no call up for Poland. At 30 he has 3-4 more years in his prime. I just think he deserves it.
7

Westover added 07:54 - Aug 28 Top keeper TOP MAN
8

bedsitfc added 08:28 - Aug 28 Wolves quoted £5m?????? That can't be right, to replace Bart like for like we would need to spend in excess of £8m+ I can't think of a keeper that I would want over Bart?
12

Churchman75 added 08:29 - Aug 28 Needs to stop conceding goals then. Already conceded 9 in 7 games
-36

BlueandTruesince82 added 08:30 - Aug 28 Slide the contract extension over please
2

Swn98 added 08:42 - Aug 28 Brilliant news could be our no 1 for at least 5 years.
6

BotesdaleBlue added 08:46 - Aug 28 Lovely to hear these comments. What a superb player and man. Legend. So come on Marcus, lets get a long term contract sorted for one of the very best keepers ever to pull on a Town jersey. To be in his final year, albeit with an option for a further year, is not really good enough for our prize asset. As it stands - counting one year options - 14, yes, 14 players have a (potentially) longer contract than Bart. The players are: Smith, Gerkin, Sears, Emmaunual, Kenlock, Dozzell, Webster, Ward, Huws, Rowe, Garner, Downes, Waghorn and Adeyemi. All good players, but the above contract position shows that Bart deserves a new, longer deal to reward his superb ability and loyalty to this Club..

13

dirtydingusmagee added 08:53 - Aug 28 GREAT NEWS ,a longer contract would be the icing on the cake.Bart is a Town legend and a top bloke,in fact he is ''different class''.
11

brendenward35 added 09:01 - Aug 28 Churchman? Make shift defenders what do you expect? Praise the guy saved us from relegation last season 1st class goalie.
9

Swailsey added 09:35 - Aug 28 Ignore Chruchman. Poor attempt at trolling.
8

TimmyH added 09:40 - Aug 28 Great news!...please lets get a decent holding midfielder and central defender.
2

WeWereZombies added 09:51 - Aug 28 Wonder if he is thinking of going into management when his playing days are over?
3

dirtydingusmagee added 11:11 - Aug 28 Churchman give us your ''better keeper'' realistic please, lets have a laugh .
3

Razor added 11:16 - Aug 28 It is obvious what the next stepis Mr Evans so just do it please----NOW!!
2

Lightningboy added 12:25 - Aug 28 Nice refreshing attitude amidst today's greed. 🖐🏼🏐🤚🏼
9

Bluetone added 12:43 - Aug 28 Bart a truly loyal player, loyal to the club, loyal family man. Top man.
5

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 12:58 - Aug 28 I like Bart a lot!
3

jas0999 added 13:17 - Aug 28 Bart and Lawrence saved us from relegation last season. This season, Bart has probably been worth at least six points, arguably nine. Essential he stays. Sounds promising.
9

Edmundo added 15:03 - Aug 28 Would take 8-10 million to get anyone close to replacing him.
3

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