Blues CEO Mark Ashton says the five signings Town have made this summer aren’t the full extent of the business the club will do before the season opens at home to Liverpool on Saturday 17th August.

So far the Blues have brought in former loanee Omari Hutchinson, right-back Ben Johnson, striker Liam Delap, centre-half Jacob Greaves and keeper Aro Muric. But Ashton says there will be more additions to come.

“It’s a tough window,” he told TownTV. “We’re swimming in a bigger pond than we’ve ever swum in before. It’s the same challenges, just with different numbers, much bigger numbers,

“And when you’re dealing with much bigger numbers, your room for error is far less. I think what you’ve seen with myself and [manager] Kieran [McKenna] is that we’ve stuck to the plan.

“Very talented people who have come into the building on the pitch, who will grow with us. And Kieran’s been very clear and very diligent in the work that he’s being doing.

“Five in, and that’s not the end of it. Fans will understand we are proactive in transfer windows.

“I think we’ve done decent business in previous windows in other leagues and I think we’ll continue and you’ll see more players over the next few weeks arrive ahead of the season.”

Reflecting on how he has found working in the Premier League market, he added: “It’s as tough as I expected, negotiations are probably tougher than ever because you’ve got to get value.

“It’s very easy to overpay and if you overpay on the way in in a deal, the deal’s never right, you’re struggling from day one.

“The due diligence we do on the type of player, the personality, the finances, the technical, the tactical piece from Kieran all has to come together.

“Myself and Kieran lead on that, [chief operating officer] Luke Werhun has been absolutely invaluable in the work he’s done behind the scenes, he’s certainly got more grey hairs this summer.

“It’s relentless, but that’s what we do. We don’t sing and dance, we don’t talk into the media what we’re doing. I think the fans have been great, I think they’ve been really controlled in the way they’ve talked about who we’re looking to bring in, which has helped us again. And we’ll keep going, there’s more to do.”

Photo: ITFC

itfcskayman added 22:09 - Jul 25 I know some people weren’t sure after it didn’t quite work out for him at Bristol City but sometimes you just need the right club. Mark Ashton IS Ipswich Town
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bobble added 22:15 - Jul 25 secret mens business...
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PortmanTerrorist added 22:25 - Jul 25 With all the due diligence, I wonder if there is room for maybe 1 gamble. Maybe a Kalvin Philips or an Antony....players who have lost their way a little. Look what Luton nearly achieved last year with Barkley. In any event, I trust the process but am also happy to hear there are more to come as I do feel we are still a little light for what lies ahead.
13

BonchoBlue added 22:31 - Jul 25 These are the days, we should just enjoy them, the transformation our club is undergoing, and at such pace is just immense. This period of tenure, leadership & investment is setting us up for prosperity for years to come, on & off the pitch, especially if we retain Ashton and his team. We should be very proud of where this club is right now and where it is going. What a time to be a Town fan

21

Europablue added 22:50 - Jul 25 Kalvin Philips would be a great loan option, for him. It depends on his wage demands.
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Edmundo added 22:54 - Jul 25 We certainly need more help on the pitch, especially in midfield. But I like the way we are operating. We aren't mugs and will walk away.
5

BeattiesBackPocket added 23:25 - Jul 25 Come on guys be realistic Kalvin Phillips is on £150,000 a week!! And he is stone average at the moment. There’s plenty out there still but wouldn’t touch him with a barge pole it’s too risky for the wage on our bill when we could get 3 or 4 players in on that wage. Don’t forget p&l
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bobble added 00:18 - Jul 26 surely this kalvin blokes wages would be paid by some middle eastern despotic sheik who has stolen all his nations oil wealth, and would not affect a loan clubs bank balance too much ?
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Saxonblue74 added 06:07 - Jul 26 Don't upset the apple cart with "superstars". We have a process, a formula, which is working. It's as much about what's going on between the ears as it is what's being done with the feet at ITFC.
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Rimsy added 06:50 - Jul 26 We don't need a Kalvin Phillips type coming in on maybe double the wages of anyone else, does nothing for the harmony in the squad. Just a slow progression gradually improving the team as we have been doing.
8

flykickingbybgunn added 07:03 - Jul 26 In Kieran and Mark we trust.
3

Mr_Jingles added 07:04 - Jul 26 Could it be that we spend more on transfers this window than all the club's previous dealings put together? I reckon so. Crazy days.... Great days!! Leif and Omari in my FF team too :-)
4

tetchris added 07:18 - Jul 26 The transfer policy appears to be bringing in young, hungry players from other PL clubs on affordable wages who have some potential, want to develop and play regular first team football and not keep going out on loan. These player's will have some sell on potential if the worst happens and town are relegated after one season, or they can be retained and the parachute payments used to pay their wages, or they excel and get sold for a big profit.

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ArnieM added 07:52 - Jul 26 Giving a player who has lost his way could include Brandon Williams perhaps?
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ThaiBlue added 08:19 - Jul 26 Love the way the club is going so much more to look forward to.the dark days are behind us now,Ashton and owners need a big pat on the back for what they have done amazing work by all.
3

dirtydingusmagee added 09:19 - Jul 26 as said , its harder now dealing in prem
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jon_talbot56 added 09:38 - Jul 26 This is far more difficult than the previous two seasons cos most of last years team are not PL standard but you cannot bring in too many and expect a team to form overnight. They will also want some wiggle room for recruits in January to address deficiencies as they have in the past two seasons. Selling a share of the club last year was really good planning as it gives us the firepower needed at this level.

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Sandman180 added 09:54 - Jul 26 Still need a CM. LM or left winger of some sorts, a striker and potentially another LB to cover Leif if and when required. Expect we might utilise the loan market for a couple
0

BobbyBell added 12:20 - Jul 26 Mark Ashton was quite definite that there will be more. That suggests to me that we have a few iron in a few fires covering our options. For a man who has so much going on and so much pressure on timings he seems very calm and in control.
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branchini1979 added 14:48 - Jul 26 Just confirming we still have no loans in yet? IT's 2 we can have in the prem? Thinking still need some cover for Defensive Midfield, Think Morsy is going to be getting a lot of yellow cards and his role is so vital but will be so much harder in the prem. Maybe one of the loan slots for this position? Otherwise maybe another left back?
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 14:59 - Jul 26 If I've understood correctly, the only known/confirmed interest is Szmodics currently? There's been some uncorroborated rumour linking us to Jordan James today. A few days ago it was some Croatian striker playing in the US?
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