In today’s EADT and Ipswich Star - 15 players from last season’s Premier League that could tempt Town

Owner Marcus Evans revealed a month ago that he was ready to back ‘miraculous’ manager Mick McCarthy in the transfer market.

Following a memorable season that saw McCarthy guide the Blues to the play-off semi-finals, having spent just £110,000 on his first-team squad, the feeling is Town are not a million miles away from being a Premier League team in waiting.

With the dust settling on the English leagues, clubs around the country are beginning to weigh up their options and a number of notable names are emerging from the Premier League as possible targets for Championship clubs.

Some, like Hull City defender Paul McShane and Burnley winger Ross Wallace, are free agents, while others, such as young Newcastle forward Sammy Ameobi, have been offered new deals by their parent clubs but are considering their options.

The wage demands of those players coming down from the top-flight or who are out-of-favour with Premier League clubs could prove to be a sticking point. Town have clamped down on paying extortionate salaries, with owner Evans, who is aware of the Championship’s Financial Fair Play restrictions, having had his fingers burnt in the past with several high-profile flops being signed by Roy Keane and Paul Jewell.

The likes of McShane and Wallace will not come cheap but are proven Championship performers, having won promotion from the second-tier in the past, and possess the kind of work ethic and versatility that McCarthy craves, as well as Premier League experience.

Ameobi, meanwhile, is being courted by Town’s Championship rivals Wolves, while his former Magpies team-mates Jonas Gutierrez and Ryan Taylor are likely to have no shortage of offers this summer.

The Blues did fall short at times last season, their chronic lack of goals from midfield once again proving a problem.

Meanwhile, in defence, when mistakes were made, the Blues boss had little flexibility to make changes, while out wide, he was reluctant to put his trust in out-and-out wingers Alex Henshall and Cameron Stewart.

Town relied heavily on 27-goal Daryl Murphy and while January signing Freddie Sears contributed nine goals in 21 appearances, another top class striker alongside David McGoldrick, would be welcome

A touch of top-flight quality could make the difference and the arrival of a few premier faces could well herald a Premier League return come next May.

See the 15 in today’s EADT and Ipswich Star.