Bookmakers SkyBet have dramatically slashed their odds of Ipswich Town left-back Tyrone Mings joining newly-promoted Premier League side Bournemouth to 1/6 this afternoon.

The Cherries had been reportedly on the verge of signing highly-rated young Everton left-back Luke Garbutt earlier this summer, but the England Under-21 international has since signed a new five-year deal at Goodison Park and it’s not yet clear whether he will be loaned to Dean Park.

Charlie Daniels played left-back for Eddie Howe’s title-winning men last season, earning rave reviews along the way.

Blues boss Mick McCarthy turned down a £3.5m offer from Crystal Palace for Mings last August and has insisted repeatedly in recent months that none of his prized assets are for sale this summer as he aims to build on a sixth-place Championship finish – the club’s best season in a decade.

The EADT and Ipswich Star understands, however, that Blues owner Marcus Evans plans on keeping the purse strings tight this summer and, if McCarthy doesn’t want to be limited to free transfers, Bosmans and loans again he may yet be tempted by a big money offer.

Speaking following the play-off semi-final defeat to Norwich, McCarthy – who signed the athletic Mings for just £10k from non-league club Chippenham Town in 2012 – said: “I had a discussion with (owner) Marcus (Evans) about the players that might be targets.

“You are looking at Murph (Daryl Murphy), with 27 goals this season. Didz (David McGoldrick) is another. I had a word with him and he’s not looking to move. He wants to come back and get himself fit and show everyone what a good player he is again.

“I’ve spoken to Bish (Teddy Bishop) and Ty (Mings) as well. I’ve pointed out to them that Cressy (Aaron Cresswell) played 140 or so games here and another 100 or so at Tranmere before he moved to West Ham.

“He was ready to make that move. He had done his time and he has gone there and won every player of the year award going. He would not have done that if he had played 40 games here.

“So I’ve said to Bish and Ty – ‘you are staying here’. I want to progress. I don’t want to sell, however much money is offered. I don’t want to lose our best players. I want young, fit and vibrant players to take us forward.”

The likes of Stoke, Leicester, West Brom, Norwich, Middlesbrough and Cardiff have all been linked with Murphy this summer, while Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger revealed he was tracking the progress of Mings last season with reports of a £10m fee having been placed on his head.

Evans, speaking through programme notes at the end of last season, vowed he would ‘strive to match market conditions’ this summer.

Managing director Ian Milne told this newspaper earlier this month: “Marcus has obviously said that if money is needed then it will be available. Marcus and Mick have already come out and said that nobody is for sale and we want to keep the squad together.

“Clearly there is one or two key players that we need to go out and get if we are going to improve again, but the key thing is that no massive overhaul is required.

“We’ve got the nucleus to build upon and it’s just about adding a few more pieces to the jigsaw.

“As we speak the funds are available. We’re not having to scrape the barrel or anything like that. We’re in a very good position to move forwards.

“Marcus has been on the edge of what he is permitted to invest and that will continue to be the case.

“After a season like we’ve just had it’s great for an owner to think ‘yeah I’m in a place that I want to be with the cost I want to be at’.

“Mick’s shown that he can build a team within sensible limits. Having said that, if it needs more money then more money is available.

“It’s great that we haven’t had to spend a fortune on transfer fees, but if it’s needed he can turn the tap on.”