Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has once again reiterated that he has been more than happy to build a squad on a limited budget this summer.

Jordan Adekunle – the 17-year-old winger who impressed against the Blues during a cameo substitute appearance for League One side Crawley Town in pre-season – yesterday signed a one-year deal following a trial period.

And he’s another free agent; the Blues have spent just £20,000 on their 11 summer signings – all of that to get youngster Jack Doherty from Irish side Waterford.

Some supporters have expressed concerns, via radio phone-ins and social networking, that the club still needs a ‘20-goal-a-season striker’.

That rare commodity does not come cheap though and while Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (a free agent, but recovering from a broken leg) and Billy Sharp (down the pecking order at Southampton) are both available, it’s clear that neither would fall within owner Marcus Evans’ strict budget.

Guirane N’Daw’s agent told this newspaper that his client is keen on a return to Portman Road following a successful loan spell last season, with 66% of those polled on our website saying they’d love to see him back.

However, the Senegalese international was understood to have been paid £18,000-a-week by French side St Etienne last year, of which Town paid £8,000-a-week.

Again, that makes his addition to a tight-knit but well-balanced squad unlikely.

“Everybody always wants more, more, more; whether it’s money, players or whatever,” said McCarthy

“I can only keep saying that I’m really delighted with the squad I’ve been able to build. I think we’ve been smart with our transfer dealings and have been able to get good players without spending money.”

More than 2,000 members of the public attended an open training day at Portman Road yesterday, with hundreds of young supporters able to meet their heroes and fill their autograph books.

New managing directors Ian Milne and Jonathan Symonds have already spoken about bringing a family feel back to the club and their desire to see the town’s youngsters supporting their local team rather than Premier League sides from further afield.