Town manager Paul Hurst says the interest in striker Martyn Waghorn is still very much there, the 28-year-old having been left on the bench throughout today’s 2-1 friendly defeat to West Ham.

Derby are the leading contenders for Waghorn having had a bid believed to be £5 million rising to £8 million turned down earlier in the week.

Sheffield United previously had an offer of approaching £5 million turned down, while Middlesbrough and Birmingham are also interested and Nottingham Forest have been linked.

Asked whether it was any clearer whether Waghorn would stay or go, Hurst said: “Again, I couldn’t say. What I can say is that, as far as I’m aware, the interest is still very much there, that’s the reason he didn’t make it on to the pitch today.

“We just felt it was everyone’s interest - the player, ourselves - that he wasn’t out on the pitch and risking injury.

“As I said the other day, it’s not an ideal situation, but it’s not the first time it’s every happened to a player and a football club and a manager.

“But hopefully it can be resolved so we can put it to bed one way or another. That’s what I think everyone would prefer.

“And again it’s very much let’s see what happens in this next week, I’d guess it’s a little bit more than that. But certainly the next week, let’s see where we are going into that Blackburn game.”

Is the situation any closer to a resolution? “I’m not sure. Again, that’s genuine, who knows. If someone decides all of a sudden and bid £20 million then I’d say it would be resolved pretty quickly.

“That’s part of it, naturally a major part of it is the fee, which I’ve spoken about. Not quite at the level I believe he’s worth.”

Will Waghorn feature in next week’s opening Championship fixture against Blackburn if things are still up in the air?

“Will he feature?” Hurst pondered. “I’d probably say he would, but again the situation might be almost at a point where we’re almost there.

“But realistically, if he’s here next Friday, then I’d want him to be involved in the game against Blackburn.”

Earlier in the summer, interest in Bartosz Bialkowski was headed off when the keeper was given a new contract.

Asked whether Town are making similar overtures towards Waghorn with the player understood to be happy at the club, Hurst responded: “I think he is [happy here]. Again, without giving you all a licence just to go and grab him and have a chat with him, I think that conversations that I’ve had with him, I know what’s been said and unfortunately I’m not willing to share that with you. They’ll remain private.

“I think sometimes it’s very easy as press, as fans to think there’s an easy solution, often you don’t quite get the full story.

“Like I said, all I ask is for people to try and trust myself and the club to do what we feel is right and again in everyone’s best interest.

“It might not be what everyone particularly wants, but sometimes you have to make decisions or make a stance to what you feel is best for Ipswich Town.”

If Waghorn does depart, Hurst admits he will have to move quickly to find a replacement with the transfer window closing on August 9th.

“I think we’d have to because what we can’t do is leave ourselves short and at the minute we feel we need players in anyway if there was to be another departure, then clearly that adds to the need to get players in," he said.

Would the short time before the window closes cause players’ prices to increase? “Again, everyone has a value. I understand what you’re saying but we’ve got to get to what we feel is right and not overpay, not be held to ransom.

“We want to just try and do the best for the football club. He hasn’t gone anywhere yet, so it may be that we’re trying to sign people anyway.

“And with all due respect to ourselves, I think everyone knows that we’re not one of the big hitters, big spenders, we haven’t got the luxury of the Premier League parachute payments etc.

“So we’ve got to do what’s right for us and conduct our business where we can. A big part of my job is try and find people that maybe are not on everyone’s radar, people that I feel that can step up that other people think otherwise.”

Quizzed on his interest in Waghorn after Derby's 2-1 friendly victory over Wolves, Rams boss Frank Lampard said: "He's an Ipswich player and he's not someone to comment on.

"It's not right to comment. I'm very pleased with what we've got here but if there are good [players available] then we will look at it.

"We may do more signings. There is time left and if we can improve then we will look at it. We have plans and if the right options come up then we will."

Photo: TWTD

SouperJim added 18:47 - Jul 28 These latest comments sound like we want to sell, whereas previously it was a bit more reluctant.
2

itfcgene added 18:54 - Jul 28 What we've got to do is what's right for the club - it will be cheaper than paying the price for another year of disappointing panicked football, playing to avoid relegation, etc. Know what I mean?
0

TractorBeezer added 19:04 - Jul 28 I have confidence in Paul. He is being as candid as he can without revealing everything.
4

RobITFC added 19:04 - Jul 28 Looks like he will be gone this week, so who would we like to see as a replacement ?
1

TWBlue added 19:25 - Jul 28 Interestingly it appears that Bamford has left Middlesbrough for Leeds today possibly instead of Vydra. I wonder if this could start the Waghorn transfer cogs turning??
2

deano85 added 19:51 - Jul 28 Is there any players been left out of the derby team? Im wondering if theres a swap+ cash deal which is why its dragging on?? They are having a major reshuffle and have players to lose...
0

inghamspur added 20:10 - Jul 28 Lawrence & Martin to Town
1

carsey added 20:47 - Jul 28 Waghorn is gone it's just the fee and who we can get to replace him now. The only thing that would prevent a move is the player himself coming out and saying so. The fact he hasn't means he's not so happy here after all.
0

Karlosfandangal added 20:55 - Jul 28 I think we should go for the lad from Exeter think his name is Stockley....... scored for the fun last season and played for Aberdeen and Bournemouth I think so worth a shot and may be able to step to to the Championship
1

Len_Brennan added 21:03 - Jul 28 As TWBlue says, Bamford is gone to Leeds for £7m - £10m, so their interest in Vydra is probably over. In that case Derby are unlikely to bring in someone other than Marriott. Middlesbrough are now short a striker of course & Pulis will respect Waggy's commitment to a cause, certainly more so than he would have with a sunshine footballer like Bamford. I'd expect he'll head back up there & we might get a better cash up front deal from them.

0

pazzy added 21:51 - Jul 28 give him a new contract
1

Dog added 22:21 - Jul 28 I was nervous before the game today but was very encouraged by the performance of the youngsters and new signings. I have been critical of PH recently but he has let his talking been done on the pitch today and that was good. With regards to waghorn, anyone think Cardiff are having a sniff and talking to the club??.
0

jas0999 added 22:37 - Jul 28 Interesting. Sounds very much like Waghorn May favour a move. Sounds like we may like to sell. If we do, then several outstanding championship quality signings must be signed on permanent deals. Loans would be fairly pointless.
1

Arthur_Hayes added 01:00 - Jul 29 If we can get £8m for Waghorn, with most of it up front, we should do so. Harrison's performance today was impressive and bodes well for the season, although we still need another striker to challenge Sears and Garner. Another RB is also needed since I'm still not convinced by either Spence or Emmanuel. More importantly, we must hold on to Dozzell, Nydam and Downes - they could be the dynamic midfield we've been in desperate need of for ages. If selling Waghorn enables us to hold on to them for a few more seasons then it'll be worth it.

1

KiwiBlue2 added 04:56 - Jul 29 I think that we should have given a deadline date (say at least 2 weeks prior to window closure) for bidders to provide an acceptable bid otherwise we hold on to the player, assuming that we want to. Having such a date takes some of the pressure off us in finding a replacement and not being held to ransom by others. If doing that is against any rules then we should just do it informally.

0

jimblue93 added 08:28 - Jul 29 Mitrovic was playing for Fulham on loan last season and has gone for 20m+ , got to mean wags worth at least half that.
0

DurhamTownFan added 08:45 - Jul 29 I think some of us need to be a bit more realistic. So if we get 8m, how much of that will PH have to actually spend? How much of the Mings money did Mm see? How much of the Murphy money was actually spent on new players? I'd be surprised if PH is given more than 1m, maybe 1.5. Could be another season loan for a striker coming in, especially if he has no time to react. The rest of the few will be used by ME to cover his costs. That's the thing when you get a manager from a lower league: they know good players and they know cheaper players. That's not a complaint! I just mean, some people need to temper their expectations on who's coming in as a replacement.

-1

tractorboybig added 09:46 - Jul 29 Waghorn is irreplaceable for the fee we would pay for a replacement who will be some cast off or nobody from a lower league. Goals win games and we don't score that many and we don't really have anyone else to do so. Still evans has a history of selling off our stars and replacing them …………………..?
1

lukey130490 added 10:07 - Jul 29 "nobody from a lower league", like Johnson, like the Ranger's cast offs Waghorn and Garner, like Jamie Vardy...
2

JimmyP45 added 19:06 - Jul 29 Marriott has gone to derby and Bamford close to joining Leeds. So Vydra won't be going to Leeds I'm guessing so does that mean Derby may not buy Waghorn now. A glimmer of hope but still another 4/5 clubs linked with him besides Derby
0

MVBlue added 19:30 - Jul 29 What have we become.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls