Ipswich chief executive Derek Bowden has confirmed that a Premier League club made efforts to try and convince Ipswich to sell Jon Walters right up until the last day but would not identify the club, although Stoke City were linked all summer.

Derek Davis

Ipswich chief executive Derek Bowden has confirmed that a Premier League club made efforts to try and convince Ipswich to sell Jon Walters right up until the last day but would not identify the club, although Stoke City were linked all summer.

Everton, Hull City, West Brom and Wigan were also understood to be admirers but were seen off.

Bowden said: “There was early interest in Jon which was declined by us.

There was another enquiry a week before the window when we made it clear he was not for sale.

“We never had a firm offer from Jon in writing.

There was an enquiry on the Saturday which we declined and there was speculation that they would come in again on Sunday but there was no call.

“We have another on deadline day but even if it had been a written offer it would have been declined because he was not for sale.”

With the transfer window for permanent sales, or cross border loans, not open again until January, Town are looking to allow a few more of their young players to join lower league clubs on loan in the next couple of months.