What are the missing pieces of the Ipswich Town jigsaw?

The final few bits of paperwork are being completed before the signing of Rangers striker Joe Garner can officially be confirmed.

With the transfer fee for the 29-year-old believed to be close to £1m – the most Mick McCarthy has spent on a player during his four-and-a-half years in charge – it’s an indication that owner Marcus Evans may just be prepared to loosen the purse strings following last season’s disappointing 16th place Championship finish.

There is still plenty of work to be done though ahead of a 16th successive campaign in the second-tier.

Garner will ruffle the feathers of opposition defences with his all-action approach, but his modest Championship goal record with the likes of Nottingham Forest, Watford and Preston suggests the Blues could do with landing the out-an-out scorer they’ve lacked since Daryl Murphy’s 27-goal campaign of 2014/15.

We understand the club remain interested in Rotherham front man Danny Ward and have tabled a player-plus-cash offer. The most likely candidates for a swap deal would appear to be the out-of-favour duo of Kevin Bru and Brett Pitman.

Ward reportedly is more keen on being reunited with Neil Warnock at Cardiff though, so Town may have to look elsewhere.

For years, Town have lacked a dynamic, positive-thinking, box-to-box midfielder who can weigh in with a few assists and goals. That remains the very top priority. Will Emyr Huws be that man? Blues fans would love to see the Welshman back following his impressive loan spell, but it’s understood that Cardiff may bring him back in from the cold.

Instead, McCarthy could turn to another Cardiff midfielder in the form of Tom Adeyemi. The Norwich-born 25-year-old impressed on loan at Rotherham and is out of contract.

At least one exciting winger is needed to fill the void left by Tom Lawrence. Another young Premier League loanee looks the best option here and those deals don’t tend to happen until August. Manchester City’s Bersant Celina, 20, has revealed he will choose between Ipswich, Leeds and Bolton.

The Blues arguably could still do with another body at the back, while time will tell if an offer too good to refuse is received for star goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.