Midfielder Flynn Downes is in no doubt he’ll still be an Ipswich Town player on February 1st once the transfer window closes and says his focus is only on getting the Blues promoted.

Downes is understood to be being closely monitored by Fulham with other clubs also believed to be keeping an eye on the 20-year-old, who looks the favourite for the Town Player of the Year award at the halfway point in the campaign.

Asked whether he expected to still be at Portman Road on February 1st, he said: “Yes, I’ll be here, I’ve got to help the Town get promoted, haven’t I? I’ll be here.”

Would his keenness to get the Blues back into the Championship keep him at Town even if a bid were to come in this month?

“Of course, that’s the main focus at the minute, I’m not focusing on anything else, I just want to get promotion and that’s that.”

The 20-year-old, who is contracted to the Blues until 2022 with the club having an option for a further season, says a move is very much something for the future: “Yes, that’s it. My head’s on promotion at the minute.”

As he has with defender Luke Woolfenden, who is similarly featuring in the football gossip columns, Downes revealed that manager Paul Lambert has recently had a chat with him.

“Yes, he has,” he said. “I don’t really like talking about it because I just want to focus on my football here.

“It is what it is, some people listen to it, some people don’t and I just want to get on with it really.”

Downes says neither of the pair are getting carried away by the speculation: “No, I don’t think we’re those kind of boys. Like I said, our main focus is Ipswich.”

However, The England U20 international admits reading that clubs might be showing interest in him gives him a boost.

“Yes, of course, you don’t want to open a newspaper and see ‘Flynn Downes is rubbish’, so it is good. But I’m not listening to any of it,” he said.

“I think everyone gets linked, there are always little rumours going about but it is what it is, I’m focusing on Ipswich and that’s it.”

Brentwood-born Downes has been with Town since he was seven and says he has the club flowing through his veins.

“It is, it is,” he said. “Our goal is to get promoted, I think if we don’t it’s been a failure, so that’s our main goal.”

Photo: TWTD

runningout added 16:54 - Jan 20 Flynn Downes could do with a new up and running robust creative midfielder. With that we'll have a good chance
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chepstowblue added 09:10 - Jan 21 He'll still be with us because no one will come in for him. He's not good enough to make the step up yet and there are far more greater attractions in league 1. Yes I want us to keep him because he's half decent,but hanging on to Teddy and a fully fit Lankaster would be a bigger priority in the long run.He's had a few good games this season but nothing to suggest that he could get anywhere near the 1st team at QPR or Fulham,who's midfields are riddled with talent.I hope he's part of the core that allows us to challenge over the next few seasons,but if we are to lose any of our youngsters,Downes departure would concern me the least.

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