Town have turned down a £2.75 million offer for keeper Bartosz Bialkowski, which TWTD understands came from Birmingham City, who were strongly linked over the weekend.

Reports that Birmingham were keen on the Polish international emerged on Friday with further stories claiming they were set to make a bid appearing in the Sunday papers.

The Blues want to keep hold of the 31-year-old but the former Southampton and Notts County man has only a year left on his contract, Town having taken up an option to keep him for a further season at the end of the last campaign.

But Bialkowski is still to put pen to paper on the new deal ex-boss Mick McCarthy said had been agreed in January.

Speaking in April, Bialkowski said his agent was continuing to talk to owner Marcus Evans regarding the new terms.

We understand Evans is very keen to get Bialkowski, who is currently away from the club following the World Cup, tied down to a new deal rather than risk losing him for what would be a cut-price fee this summer or nothing this time next year when he would be a free agent. Talks are expected to resume shortly.

Summer interest in Bialkowski, Town’s Player of the Year for the last three seasons, had been widely expected due to his contract situation and with Crystal Palace - whose interest we understand has cooled more recently - having targeted him in January.

Photo: TWTD

leftie1972 added 13:58 - Jul 9 What a joke, that's laughable for arguably the best GK in the Championship. Get him signed up to a new contracr, sharpish. He should be the clubs top earner, if he's not make it so.
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Europablue added 14:01 - Jul 9 I assume that Bart has not even met the new manager, so it would be reckless of him to sign a new contract at Town without first seeing the direction the club is heading in
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ArnieM added 14:17 - Jul 9 I agree Europablue. But I don't think Bart has ever intended to stay with us. Yes he deserves his shot at PL but as much as we see him as the next Messiah, I'm not convinced he is good enough for PL, and there's not exactly a queue of PL Clubs trying to buy him is there. If he's only offers come from Championshipbclubs, then he'd do well to sign that contract and stay with us because I think Paul Hurst will have a very positive impact on this squad this coming season. ....Of course Bart could just be like most players today , only interested in the £ signs and will leave for another Championship club willing to pay him more money ?!

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WestSussexBlue added 14:39 - Jul 9 He's 31. He's protecting his and his family's long term future and wants a better deal to stay. Fair play to him. He's already said he wants to stay. Marcus he's an important cog going forward. Get the deal done.
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Europablue added 14:40 - Jul 9 ArnieM It's strange that Bart didn't sign the new contract considering it had been agreed in principle. I imagine the reason is that Mick's future was in doubt, and I don't blame him for waiting to see who would be in charge. Then Ipswich wasn't his main focus this summer having been at the world cup. I am willing to wait to hear from him, but we can't accept any offers without knowing what Bart wants.

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pennblue added 14:49 - Jul 9 He is worth far more than £3 million to the club if we can keep him here playing the next 5 years
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 17:06 - Jul 9 I'm torn. 2.75 million is an insult, but it's obvious he doesn't want to be here....
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braveblue added 17:41 - Jul 9 Payer of the year for 3 seasons. Why did Evans not sort this out months ago. Typical.
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braveblue added 17:42 - Jul 9 Player of the year for 3 seasons. Why did Evans not sort this out months ago. Typical.
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jas0999 added 18:13 - Jul 9 Dreadful offer, rightly turned down. Emphasis now must be on getting the contract sorted. I can't see ME letting him go for nothing.
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have_a_word_with_him added 18:44 - Jul 9 Pay the man!
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Cloddyseedbed added 20:28 - Jul 9 Embarrassing valuation, embarrassing offer. Championships best keeper by far. However it seems Mr Bart wants more than we are prepared to offer or just wants to leave for pastures new. Probably waiting for MM to take over a Premier League club and take him with him. I think he'll have a long wait. If Bart leaves for another Championship side I think the feel good factor we witnessed a few weeks ago will soon be in decline. Still no good having an unsettled player in the camp, but you most certainly can not sign the best goalkeeper in the Championship and one that has been on World cup duty for his country for £3m.

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bobble added 01:25 - Jul 10 give him a big pay rise and make him captain...
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