Town manager Paul Hurst has refused to fuel the growing speculation linking Martyn Waghorn with a move to Derby County, although he admitted that he has “had a conversation” with the sought-after frontman.

Speaking after Town’s 1-0 win over MK Dons, a victory earned through Freddie Sears’ second-half penalty, Hurst said he knew nothing of any developments regarding Waghorn’s future but was cryptic when asked why he had been left on the bench for the entire 90 minutes.

“Nothing’s changed since the weekend on that side,” Hurst said. “If [Derby are in for him] it’s news to me, if anything’s changed. I’m sure, when I switch my phone on, if there’s anything I’ll be getting a call to say so.”

National newspaper reports this evening suggest Waghorn has put in a transfer request and Hurst was reluctant to elaborate on discussions that have taken place between the pair.

“I’ve spoken with Martyn,” he said. “I’m not going to divulge at this moment in time what that conversation was, but we have had a conversation.”

Asked whether Waghorn’s lack of action against the League Two side was simply through a desire to assess other squad options, Hurst simply replied “Possibly”.

Any deal with the Rams would complicate what already looks likely to be a frantic two and a half weeks of pre-deadline day activity at Portman Road. “I feel like it’s groundhog day,” Hurst said of Town’s chase to add to the four summer signings they have already made.

“Every time I open my eyes you start the process of trying to come up with something new or hoping a situation has changed.

“Just because Ellis [Harrison] has come in it doesn’t mean it’s the end of our business. The lads have done well tonight but we certainly need more bodies still, every Ipswich Town fan can see that I’m sure. We’re talking about being patient: it’s a testing time, it’s testing my patience, but we’ll get there in the end.”

On Monday the Scunthorpe chairman Peter Swann said his club had rejected a “rubbish” bid from Town for their left-back, Conor Townsend. Asked whether such a bid had been placed, Hurst answered: “If he’s said that then it must be true.”

Hurst would not say how many players he is targeting — “I’d better not because I’ll scare the owner… no, we still need a few more” — but admitted that central defence remains an urgent priority.

“We’re looking at a couple of lads obviously,” he said. “Credit to Luke Woolfenden, he’s looking a good player. Is he ready to play 46 games a season? We all know that’s certainly not the case but that’s nothing against him.

“Between him and Luke Chambers they’re the only two recognised centre-backs we have, a couple of players can fill in there but if that happens we’re stretched in other areas.

“So certainly I’d suggest that’s the most obvious place we need strength, whether that’s strength in depth or lads coming in to start. We want competition all over the pitch.”

On the pitch, Hurst was far happier with a dominant performance against Paul Tisdale’s side that should have yielded a bigger winning margin. Town pressed intensely for much of the game but failed to take advantage of several promising situations near the goal.

“I was pretty pleased, I think it was the best we’ve been so far,” he said. "In particular our pressing to win the ball back high up the pitch, there were improvements to be seen there.

“The lads did it with more intent tonight, a better attitude towards that side of the game, which enabled us to have some opportunities we didn’t take advantage of.

“That’s probably the biggest standout for me, we’ve still got to stop making the ballboys and stewards be as busy when we’re in good positions. But certainly the best performance since I’ve arrived.”

Although Town did not miss a string of clear chances, he highlighted that being clinical does not necessarily equate to converting a shot on goal.

“It’s not really someone being through on goal and missing target, it’s more the final pass or cross into the box,” he said. “That’s where we’ve certainly got to be more clinical.

“Bart’s made a big save which would have made the scoreline 1-1, and if that’s finished like that I think it would have been an injustice to a lot of the work the players carried out over the 90 minutes.

“But if you don’t get that second goal you always leave yourselves vulnerable.”

Hurst was particularly pleased with Harrison, who put in a lively 63 minutes and came close to scoring in both halves. Harrison seemed particularly well cut-out for the pressing game and his new manager believes there is much more to come.

“He’s mobile, he is a threat when we get balls in the box, he was unlucky in particular with one header,” he said.

“He hasn’t trained with the players, that’s his first outing. I’m pleased with how he’s already settled in with the group, he’s a good character in the dressing room and will be, moving forwards.

“His movement was good so, as we haven’t done any work with him yet, it’s a very positive sign.”

Photo: PagePix

therein61 added 07:11 - Jul 25 For heavens sake Town put an end to this saga one way or the other! if he wants to go then get it sorted and get replacements in fast or we will be piddling about and the window will be closed.
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itfcbam added 07:17 - Jul 25 Let's be realistic. If Waggy goes there he will prob be looking at 50% pay rise at least. Is that greedy / disloyal? Dont want to see him go but ultimately he is a family man and this sort of move would probably make him and his family financially secure. Wouldn't you do the same for yours?
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itfcbam added 07:17 - Jul 25 Let's be realistic. If Waggy goes there he will prob be looking at 50% pay rise at least. Is that greedy / disloyal? Dont want to see him go but ultimately he is a family man and this sort of move would probably make him and his family financially secure. Wouldn't you do the same for yours?
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Karlosfandangal added 07:53 - Jul 25 Woodbridgian I agree with your Waghorn comment, I was surprised how well he did last year, its a gamble if we let him go, However if the fee is as high as £8 million then Hurst should have more spending power to improve the side, much like Town did when Dyer was sold. Hurst may want to play Waghorn in a different role which he is not keen on or he may not be able to adapt to the system he wants to play. Or of course as some one said Derby may have told his agent they will double his wages

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crazyblue68 added 08:24 - Jul 25 Whatever is happening. It needs to get done. We havent got forever in the transfer window this season. I get the feeling Hurst is getting a little rattled looking at that interview. He certainly doesnt like being asked the question on incoming players, reading it, he is really struggling to get any in. Exeter? Ffs, aim a bit higher Evans you tight sod!
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:48 - Jul 25 the Murphy fiasco is rearing its ugly head again , Seems to me Evans chose Hurst ,because he said he would work on a skinflint budget, not for any realistic push for promotion . I WANT to be positive ,but we seem to be bumbling along in the usual way into a new season. And I can se us being caught cold. WORRYING TIMES.
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Monkey_Blue added 09:03 - Jul 25 I don't mind Hurst playing his cards close to his chest. MM was the master of this especially in comparison to Jewell and Keane who were way too open for the clubs good. I don't want to see Waghorn go as I think as much as his goals we'll miss his set piece delivery. Couple that with if Hurst can finally make proper use of Knudsen's throw ins that could be 20 plus goals we'd need to replace.

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crazyblue68 added 09:19 - Jul 25 Knudson only manages those throw ins with long run ups. He hasnt got the space at portman road.
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lukeym18 added 09:22 - Jul 25 If waghorn wants to go let him, if we hadn't of taken a chance on him he'd be nowhere we rekindled his career and have make him more prolific than he ever was. yes i'd miss him but i trust hurts to spend our money wisely rather than the previous manager. can see us signing 5/6 more players on permanent contracts then the loan window is open until end of August so plenty of time to sign people..

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bugledog123 added 09:53 - Jul 25 Lets just KEEP him - easier all round
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toxtethblue added 10:04 - Jul 25 "can see us signing 5/6 more players on permanent contracts" In 3 weeks?! Never going to happen, pie in the sky thinking... We'll be lucky to sign another 2...
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rodthegasman added 10:10 - Jul 25 I must de missing something here.i thought we were building a side with promotion in mind.not a side that looks like it will do well to to stay up.ive supported the town for over 50years and still support them.but I'm finding it hard to see where we are going as a club.you don't sell your best assets,you add to the team with good players to give us a chance of going up to the premiership.all we will have is a teem that will struggle to stay in the championship.the time has come for evens to spend big or sell to someone who will.sorry to say money talks these days.rant over,once a blue always a blue.will support them whatever .

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rollercoastertown added 10:38 - Jul 25 Simple really. If he goes then do it quickly. Hurst knows his targets and can get them all in by the weekend if this one is wrapped up. What must not happen is let this roll on and end up being done last minute so we don't benefit from the cash.
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WhiteVanMan added 10:45 - Jul 25 If these rumours of a Saudi takeover are true sounds like Evans is asset stripping the club before he sells up.
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trncbluearmy added 10:52 - Jul 25 Town fans need to look at what is happening here,Edwards and Harrison picked up for peanuts and both look as if they have an awful lot to offer,Roberts not sure but PH willing to give him ago, that`s good enough for me and Bart signed up. If Waggy stays great but if ITFC get £8m for him that is good business,we know PH will not get it all, there are a lot more expenses to running a football club then spunking it all on transfer fees, but PH comes over as the type of bloke who will want his share and knows what to do with it. Buying quality in cheap and selling at a vast profit is the only way ITFC can compete with the parachute money and owners just throwing money at it. Slowly but surely we will improve,and have some money in the bank when needed,it`s exactly the way Sheepy and GB operated to get ITFC promoted.

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itsonlyme added 11:13 - Jul 25 Don't forget the Derby players will be on a very high salary - not sure we could compete with that!
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Tony88 added 11:19 - Jul 25 I don't think we can afford Derby players wages. We do not want Nugent who is too old and very high wages. The article on the bbc site about Marriott has been on there for well over a week, I think it was just another paper rumour.
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Woodbridgian added 11:25 - Jul 25 Local Derby Media reporting the can't say i like the last sentence !! "A fee of £8m has been reported for 28-year-old Waghorn, who joined Ipswich from Rangers 12 months ago for only £250,000, but it is thought the fee would be heavily built on clauses"
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braveblue added 11:48 - Jul 25 I'd rather have £3m and two players. Evans would never spend £8m and he can't send players to Group treasury.
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FrankMarshall added 11:51 - Jul 25 I'd be surprised if it's 8M. More likely the 3M plus two players, especially considering the huge size of their squad this season. They will certainly be looking to make deals on existing players if they can, and know that CB is our main priority (plus an instant replacement for Waghorn) There are some Derby players whose wages would be outside what we can pay. However, there are a few which reach our bracket (particularly from their vast U23 squad).

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maninashed added 12:15 - Jul 25 Taking Derby players seems unlikely. I suspect their wages are much higher than ours, otherwise why would Waghorn want to go. He must realise if Derby got promoted he would not play for them in the Premiership.
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gosblue added 14:55 - Jul 25 I was at the Derby away game last season and their best player was Richard Keogh and he's only 31. Nugent hasn't looked his best the last 2-3 games I've seen him. Tom Lawrence would be more than welcome back here. As others have said, wages could be a problem.
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stiffy501 added 18:38 - Jul 25 3m + 2 uuum is Bradley Johnson still there ? Always thought he was a useful midfielder even though he is ex Naarich Maybe him and Chris Martin lol
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