League One side Blackburn Rovers are reportedly set to beat Championship duo Ipswich Town and Barnsley to the signing of striker Dominic Samuel from Reading.

Samuel spent the second half of last season on loan with the Blues but was restricted to just two starts and four substitute appearances after suffering an early toe injury.

The 23-year-old had made six league starts for Jaap Stam’s side in the first half of the season and many Royals fans were calling for him to get more game time, but it looks as though he will be departing his boyhood club this summer.

According to The Sun, Blackburn – managed by ex-Blues favourite Tony Mowbray and preparing for life in the third-tier following relegation – have out-bid Town and Barnsley with a £500k offer.

McCarthy needs to bolster his front line with Kieffer Moore having joined Rotherham on loan and Brett Pitman understood to be available for transfer. That leaves Joe Garner, David McGoldrick and Freddie Sears as options.

Asked on Saturday, following a 5-0 friendly win at Irish side Drogheda, whether Samuel would be returning to Portman Road, McCarthy said: “At this moment in time, nothing’s happening with that.”