Blues boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking about the loan moves made by keepers Aro Muric and Cieran Slicker over the last week.

Muric, 26, has joined Serie A new boys Sassuolo on loan for the season, the deal including an option to become permanent next summer for €10 million (£8.7 million).

The Kosovo international signed for Town a year ago from Burnley for £8 million plus £2 million in add-ons.

Asked whether the Italian move marks the end of Muric’s time with the Blues, McKenna said: “No, it's a loan move. I'm not exactly sure, to be honest, on any clauses in there or that, so I'm probably the wrong man for any of those questions, but it's a loan move for an Ipswich player. I've said many times, I think he's a really, really talented goalkeeper. 

“Of course, it didn't all work out exactly how he would have wanted last year. Had some good games, some not so good moments and that's the life of a football player, and probably especially for a goalkeeper.

“We have a lot of belief in his ability and he's going to a good club in Serie A, and hopefully he can have a really good season. From there, we'll see what happens.”

Slicker, 22, joined League Two Barnet for the campaign and the Scotland international made his league debut in last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Bromley and was praised by his manager Dean Brennan after the match despite the loss.

“A good move for him,” McKenna added. “He was definitely ready to get the games.

“It took a little while over the summer to find something that was the right fit, but he was happy with Barnet as a choice and hopefully it’s a good chance to play a lot of games and pick up his experiences.

“I think he did quite well in his first game and I'm sure he'll continue that way.”

Photo: Matchday Images

hadleighboyblue added 20:13 - Aug 15 Walton needs to go to get 1st team football , warming the bench is doing him no good
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PhuketPete added 03:31 - Aug 16 I’m hearing he (Christian) and Luke both now pushing to move on, one way or another. Can totally understand why both would feel that way despite having 2/3 years remaining on their contracts. Luke was a stalwart of our promo sides and whilst content to be a PL squad player, you can see why he’d not want to be just a squad player back in the Champs. (No doubt same applied to CamB). Back to CW; he has now missed several seasons of regular first team football. Surely that must have impacted his confidence and performances. The error for the Bromley goal was uncharacteristic. It may well be he needs a reset and regular football even if only as a precursor to a return to Town although that may be unlikely if Slicks has a great season at Barnet and returns next season as #2.

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Len_Brennan added 07:37 - Aug 16 "... I'm not exactly sure, to be honest, on any clauses in there or that, so I'm probably the wrong man for any of those questions..." It is surely inconceivable that McKenna would not know the terms under which a goalkeeper the club payed £8m for, just last summer, would be going on loan for, with a clause to make it permanent! We're just big kids following the club & we want to hoover up every bit of information on the players, possible incomings & outgoings, lenghts of contracts, release clauses etc., so for him not to be interested just seems bizarre, especially when he stresses that it just a loan & that "he is a very talented goalkeeper ...[that the club] ... have a lot of belief in".

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