Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy could be ready to hit the shops after the club’s £8m windfall for left-back Tyrone Mings.

The Blues received the bulk of the aforementioned fee from newly-promoted Premier League side Bournemouth up front – the deal could eventually rise to as much as £10m after add-ons – while the Cherries also threw in striker Brett Pitman (free) and winger Scott Fraser (season-long loan) for good measure.

Town players returned to pre-season training this morning and McCarthy will now work closely with director of football Dave Bowman to identify which areas of his squad he wants to strengthen ahead of the new Championship season starting on August 8.

A box-to-box, 10-15 goals-a-season midfielder could be the golden piece in the jigsaw if Town are going to kick on from their recent sixth-place finish and play-off semi-final defeat to Norwich.

An attack-minded right-back would provide better balance in defence and allow Luke Chambers to compete with Christophe Berra and Tommy Smith for the centre-back berths.

With Arsenal teenager Ainsley Maitland-Niles set to join on loan, there are now a few pacey options on the right wing. Someone in a similar mould for the left side may well be on the wish list though.

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