Bartosz Bialkowski and Ipswich Town still have ‘a couple of things to sort’ before the Polish goalkeeper signs his new contract with the club.
Manager Mick McCarthy announced on January 26 that his goalkeeper had agreed to extend his deal until 2020, with the option of a further year. But that deal remains unsigned, with Bialkowski’s current terms expiring at the end of the season and the club holding the right to extend those by 12 months.
The 30-year-old has once again insisted he is happy in Suffolk and wants to sign, but admitted there are a few issues to iron out before he puts pen to paper.
“No, not yet,” Bialkowski said when asked if he had signed his deal. “There are still a couple of things to sort and hopefully we’re going to sort those soon.
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“I’ve still got the (12 month extension) option for next year anyway, but – as I say – there are still a couple of things to be sorted.
“As I’ve said so many times before, I love this place, I love the club and I’m really happy here.
“There are still a couple of things that need to be sorted, but two parties want to sign that contract.”
Bialkowski was heavily linked with a move to Premier League side Crystal Palace in January and still harbours dreams of playing in the top flight.
“At one time I had about seven agents calling me about Crystal Palace saying ‘I get can you that move’. It’s been the same in the past with people calling and saying ‘I can get you this and I can get you that’. I always just tell them to speak to my agent.
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“I was quite relaxed about it. I was thinking ‘if anything happens it happens, if not then I stay here’.
“You just leave all that to your agent and concentrate on your job.
“Every footballer dreams to play at the highest level possible and that’s still my dream. Obviously the ideal scenario is to be there with Ipswich.”
When asked how long he would be prepared to remain at Portman Road, chasing his dream, Bialkowski said: “I don’t want to think about it that way really. I’m just trying to concentrate on my job very week because you never know what the future will bring.
“I’m not looking too far ahead. Whatever the future brings, we’ll see.
“I’ve said it a hundred times that me and my family absolutely love this place, but then again if something happens then you need to sit down with your family and discuss positives, negatives and then who knows? We’ll see.”
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