Blues keeper Bartosz Bialkowski has revealed that he was “really close” to a move to Premier League Burnley during the summer but that the clubs were unable to agree a deal.

Bialkowski, speaking to Polish broadcaster TVP Sport, was asked whether it would be harder for him to make a move into the Premier League now he has turned 30, his birthday was in July, the Clarets having tried to sign him in the summer.

“It was really close but the clubs couldn't come to an agreement,” he responded. “On one hand I still dream about playing in the top division. On the other hand I have no regrets as I feel really good at Ipswich. Maybe we'll win promotion this year. It would be the best scenario of all.

“As for my age, I am planning on playing for a few more years still. I feel good and I hope to continue my career until I'm fit and healthy. I still love football and enjoy playing.”

TWTD previously reported Burnley’s interest in Bialkowski, Town’s Player of the Year for the last two seasons, while Wolves were also understood to have been keen early in the summer with the Blues believed to have put a £5 million price on their keeper’s head.

Bialkowski says Town sought to play down rumours of interest, which pleased him: "Yes, and I was happy about it. The fans respect me very much, my family loves Ipswich. My loved ones don't really want to move anywhere. If you're happy somewhere there's no point changing things just for the sake of it.”

The former Southampton and Notts County man is contracted to Town until the end of the season but with the club having an option for a further year. The 6ft 4in tall keeper said recently that he’d be open to extending that deal.

Braniewo-born Bialkowski, who has said before that his wife and children are very settled in Suffolk, dismissed the suggestion he would have to move on to progress further in his career.

“I am not looking at it this way,” he added. “There are still things to achieve for me with Ipswich and the most important thing now is hard work, every single day. This is my focus.”

Asked whether promotion is in Town’s reach, he said: “I hope so. We didn't make spectacular transfers but some of the lads we've got are the leading players in the league.

“We've played really well so far. We beat Sunderland 5-2 recently. This town misses Premier League football a lot. Ipswich used to play in the top division for quite a while and with some success. The current squad would like to be part of the club's successful history too.”

Meanwhile, Bialkowski says he’s heard nothing regarding a call-up to the Poland squad having won six caps at U20 level between 2005 and 2007.

“There's been no interest in me in the recent years,” he said. “And nobody from the national team staff has contacted me now either.

“Adam Nawalka [Poland head coach] has his hierarchy of goalkeepers, the same people have been receiving call-ups all the time and I am not going to force myself in, of course. There's a huge competition for the goalkeeper spot.”

He added: “I'm not bitter at all. It is still my dream to play for the national team but then again it's ‘only’ Championship.

“On the the other hand, Kamil Grosicki [Hull City] and Pawel Wszolek [QPR] play in the same league. The coach sees them as a part of the squad so it is possible to win a place in the national team from this level.”

Did he see things working out as they have on the international front a decade ago when he was with the U20s? “The time goes by but there's still no call-up. I've not won a single cap for the senior team.

“I used to be a different person back then, I made too many mistakes. There are few things I regret. I sat on the bench at Southampton for too long instead going somewhere where I'd play regularly. Now I am ready for the call-up, definitely.”

[Update] Bialkowski responded to a fan's tweet earlier this evening, clarifying that he had had no contact with Burnley.

just to make it clear, I have never had any contact with Burnley so no idea where that come from🙈

— Bartosz Bialkowski (@1BartMan1) October 4, 2017

Photo: TWTD

cat added 16:38 - Oct 4 Putting things into a little bit of perspective here, whilst not trying to be too negative!! Bart has been our stand out player over the last couple of seasons, there's absolutely no doubting that, but competition on that front has been severely lacking. A very likeable player, but I do think some on here are getting a little carried away. There were a few mistakes last season, as there has been this one already, looked a bit flat footed on Saturday for the first 2 goals, now I'm not saying he was at fault, but these are the kind of goals that separate a top keeper from a good un. Distribution is not the best and I'm not convinced he commands that area to any great degree. Maybe these are the reasons he's been overlooked at international level behind other championship keepers and the reason a massive offer has not been made for him. This post is not going to win me many admires I'm sure, but hey, what does 'the cat' know. Lol

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lightingblue added 17:28 - Oct 4 Please people, his not the only goalkeeper on the planet. Players come players go like in any industry. I wouldn't be that bothered if he did leave. You go and get somebody else. Plus you have to understand that like any other club, Ipswich town fc is not the centre of the world. In my line of work, like any if something better comes along and you are looking at bettering yourself you do. So why should Bart be any different. You also have to understand that the club have massive debts, which by the way Evans and McCarthy were not guilty of. There is a good chance that other players and more so the better ones will more than likely move on. The club is now a selling club and Evans may well see the academy as a cheap long term solution to minimising the debt. In essence don't be surprised if bart goes in January.

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Ipswichbusiness added 17:42 - Oct 4 Lightningblue, I agree with much of what you say, but if we sell Bart what are the chances of the money being reinvested in the team? What are the chances of getting a replacement 'keeper as good? I suspect that his replacement would be Gerken and the money would be spent anywhere but the first team.
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carsey added 18:39 - Oct 4 I'm not surprised other clubs were after him I never believed McCarthy when he told us he had not had any enquiries for anyone but I wouldn't expect him to admit it. Town should now get him signed up to a better deal before January because it will all start again and while they are at it McGoldrick too.
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jas0999 added 18:50 - Oct 4 What's worrying is the club were actively looking to do a deal. Yet again off setting the fee signings.No doubt Gerks would have been the first choice and we'd be struggling. Evans will be looking to sell in January.
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Kirbmeister added 19:17 - Oct 4 I was reading down waiting for the rant about MM when the article has f... all to do with him. Glad to see Bluebore didn't disappoint. The Bluebore that is silent when we get a decent result but comes to the fore when we don't.
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Swn98 added 19:22 - Oct 4 As usual agree 100% Kirbmeister. Whilst Bart undoubtedly saved us points last year this year he has not been the safe pair of hands we have come to expect.
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Kirbmeister added 19:32 - Oct 4 Swn98 - thanks. I'm a big fan of Bart and hope he stays but I so bloody tired of every story being turned around to be about Mick. I should just shut up and put up it but I find it hard to to have the occasional rant.
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Kirbmeister added 19:57 - Oct 4 ..and have to have the occasional rant.
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blueboy1981 added 20:17 - Oct 4 ....... another change of wind direction for some ... !! - before anyone has a pop as 'not such a safe pair of hands this season' - just accept the fact that where we would now be without him, is not worth thinking about. And it's high time some got there facts right before posting - i.e reading all posts instead of just the ones from the 'happy clappie clan' - who lets face it, are happy with anything,and everything, and always will be as we all know.

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TimmyH added 20:19 - Oct 4 Largely agree with your post @seasider but money is not the be all and end all, as mentioned before Huddersfield and Reading got in the play-offs last season spending relatively little (though Huddersfield did have a fair few loans), so promotion can be done without spending say 8-12 Million plus as some clubs have done this summer and are now or still struggling (Reading and Birmingham) etc. - the problem is I just don't think we have the right manager to do it, I think MM is the right man in a crisis but to get promoted with his style of play and tactics is pushing it and certainly the longer he's been here the more goals we ship. In the play-off season with him I think the stars aligned and Murphy got goals galore, Mings had an exceptional first half of the season and Teddy Bishop crept out from somewhere only to go back into his shell. McCarthy strikes me as a manager who doesn't build long term strategies but takes a season at a time and see's what develops after a lot of tinkering around. 5 1/2 years as you mention is a long time and you'd expect progression but I fancy Mick will be leaving us only a bit better of then when he arrived but at least we won't have the numerous poor players/loans the PJ left us with.

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TimmyH added 20:24 - Oct 4 re: Bart - you just have to look at the amount of MOM's he won last season and at the start of this one, says it all. Okay the odd mistake made but when so many shots are coming at you and the ever increasingly fragile defense in front of you...
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blueboy1981 added 20:27 - Oct 4 ....... agree TimmyH - we have Mid Table Mick, never no more, or no less. Current crowd levels indicate that the forever 'Happy Clappie Clan' and their forever satisfied attitude, is not what everyone (by far) wants. Vey little, if any, progress during his tenure - AT HUGE COST it has to be said - and still laughing all the way to the Bank. But for how much longer ? - with crowds falling dramatically.

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ArnieM added 20:29 - Oct 4 So much for the "I'm not going anywhere.... I want to see out my career at Ipswich"! Why do footballers come up with this utter ShYte? Why not be truthful? I'd have far more respect for a player who said openly it's my big chance to play on the biggest stage in this Country , it's a chance I can't turn down and I owe it to my family .
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Elto added 21:42 - Oct 4 A hypothetical scenario is not a 'fact' Blueboy.
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Daleyitfc added 21:54 - Oct 4 This shows, yet again, hat you can't believe a word 'Honest Mick' utters. Get rid. (no, not Bialkowski)
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12th_Man added 22:13 - Oct 4 Check out @1BartMan1's Tweet: just to make it clear, I have never had any contact with Burnley so no idea where that come from🙈 — Bartosz Bialkowski (@1BartMan1) October 4, 2017
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Currie10 added 22:33 - Oct 4 Would have been far far better to have kept such comments to yourself me thinks... didn't need to get the cat out the bag at all! Pleased you're staying though.
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ipswich134 added 00:59 - Oct 5 Burnley called , how much does Bart cost? MM 5m plus sell on. Burnley , ok never mind. Was there a bid ? No . was Bart informed,? Yes. Was there contact with player? No. Case closed
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Currie10 added 02:54 - Oct 5 For people who forever bang on about ' if we sell will the $$$$ get put back into the side ' - we lose an absolute fortune every single season! The $$$ does go back in that sense to pay the laughable running costs in this division. Not saying I agree with it, however it's utterly out of control...
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Swn98 added 07:40 - Oct 5 If you say so Blue boy!!!!!!
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Swn98 added 08:18 - Oct 5 Whilst Bart undoubtedly saved us points last year!!! BLUEBOY perhaps its you that needs to read all the posts. Ive been quiet happily posting my thoughts and gained quite a few agrees for a change then yet again along comes Blueboy rubbishing everyone who has positive thoughts we are not going to take the league by storm this year but its a darn site better than last. If we can get the squad back fit and keep it fit with hard work and graft we might creep into the play offs.If we dont well its another season in the Championship.

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blueboy1981 added 10:07 - Oct 5 ....... Swn98 - in other words - you have confirmed that you are, and will be, satisfied with whatever. No surprises there then - and are things better this season ?? - 14k crowds suggest otherwise. Something you will no doubt conveniently want to overlook, whilst you keep on making excuses with your if's, but's, and of course maybe's. I rest my case.
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Swn98 added 10:51 - Oct 5 Blueboy how many of the missing fans do you put down to the atrocious behaviour of the club in the way they treated those approaching 60 and those between 60 -64 i would estimate a good 2k this had nothing to do with MM or the football on offer. I would say that the football ive seen this season is better than last and also much better than any of the Keane Jewell years at least we look like we can come from behind. We will just have to agree on the fact that i see the glass as half full and you as half empty nothing wrong in that, thats what makes the world go round.

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Taricco_Fan added 14:25 - Oct 5 I took it as a given that Bart was the subject of serious interest and offers during the summer, regardless of what the club and player have said. Just assumed that nothing came to fruition for him. After the debacle of a campaign last season I can understand why he would look for other opportunities. Got to look at this from the player's perspective. Football is a short career and a player has to earn as much money as they can. While losing Bart would be a huge loss for our club, I certainly wouldn't begrudge him moving to a Premier League team (or even one of the wealthy Championship clubs) for a big money contract that will safeguard his family's future. We would all do the same.

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