Mick McCarthy is certain David McGoldrick will maintain the form that made him a multi-million pound target for Premier League new-boys Leicester City, while expressing his desire to hand Crystal Palace target Tyrone Mings a new deal at Portman Road.
Town are thought to have turned down two bids for McGoldrick from the Foxes – understood to be £6.5m and £7m – and also rebuffed interest from new Eagles boss Neil Warnock, who was keen on taking Mings to Selhurst Park, with a fee of £2.5m being mooted.
McGoldrick has scored one goal this season, having made his return from a long-term knee injury, sustained in February, while Mings has made four league starts and one substitute appearance, in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Derby.
On McGoldrick, McCarthy admitted he was unsure over the striker’s future, prior to the transfer window closing, but does not think he will have a problem lifting the former Nottingham Forest striker, who it is believed had an £11m price tag attached to him.
Speaking to the Blues’ official website, McCarthy said: “It’s (transfer window) gone by with a whimper now for us.
“I guess I have got a player that I thought I might be without so that is a good signing for us. Leicester were bidding at him and I assume it got close, I am not sure how close.
“I thought it might happen. Marcus (Evans) did not want to let it happen, but what stage it got to, I am not quite sure and I am glad he is staying.”
He added: “I was asked the question, ‘has he asked to leave’, that wasn’t the case, but I did say that all our heads would be turned by a Premier League club and Didzy was the same.
“He would like to do that (play in Premier League). Whether he can do that with Ipswich, whether that is possible, who knows?
“He has always been up for a fight, he has been a great player since he came and I expect he will continue just the same.
“There might be a tinge of disappointment to start with but we have to get on with it don’t we?”
Mings, who played in the Blues’ under-21s draw with Sheffield Wednesday on Monday night, is getting his first real run of games in the side since moving from Chippenham almost two years ago.
Such has been the impression the youngster has made on McCarthy, tying him down to a new contract is a big priority for the Blues boss.
“They (Crystal Palace) were interested and I spoke to Neil Warnock,” said McCarthy.
“He asked me about him and I told him what a good player he is and that I didn’t want to sell him.
“That did not deter Palace’s interest, it’s par for the course, and I am not sure what the bid was or where it got to, but I said all along I wasn’t interested in losing him and we had already discussed the certainty of giving him a new contract because he got in the team and has done so well.
“That will be the case and I want him for the long term.”
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