Mick McCarthy will do his utmost to keep Daryl Murphy at Ipswich Town, but admitted the £8m sale of Tyrone Mings to Bournemouth will have no bearing on any final decision.

Murphy is currently enjoying an extended break, following 27 goals for the Blues last term and his subsequent post-season international commitments.

Following the best goalscoring season of his life, Murphy, 32, has been linked with a number of rival Championship clubs, as well as a move to the Premier League, and has two years left on his current deal.

McCarthy, whose team started pre-season training yesterday, is desperate to keep hold of the Republic of Ireland man and crucially, does not have to sell him, especially after Mings’ move to the Cherries.

However, every player is available at the right price, according to the Blues boss.

Speaking to the media at the club’s Playford Road training ground yesterday, McCarthy said: “Tyrone Mings (sale) doesn’t mean anything to be honest.

“We don’t want to sell Daryl Murphy, and that is what I will be telling him and his agent when he returns. We want to keep him.

“He was the outstanding striker in this division last season and it would be difficult to fill his boots.”

However, expanding on the Mings deal, which saw Brett Pitman (permanent deal) and Ryan Fraser (season-long loan) join Town, McCarthy was as realistic as ever when addressing the subject of losing his star players.

“We didn’t get any direct interest for any of them (Ipswich players) prior to this (Mings),” he explained.

“I enquired about the lads at Bournemouth and I think that probably set the ball rolling, I don’t think they thought he (Mings) was for sale, and he wasn’t.

“But then everybody has got their price, especially when you can do other things with the money and get two players in, and that is what happened.”

McCarthy was in jovial mood as he prepares for his third full season in charge at Portman Road, and said: “I am still slightly in holiday mode, and probably still thinking it’s come round too quick, but once the lads start coming in and the craic and fun starts, you realise how much you have missed it.”

Meanwhile, Town’s trip to Reading in September has been chosen for live coverage by Sky Television.

The Blues will now face Steve Clarke’s side at the Madejski Stadium on Friday, September 11 with the game kicking off at 8pm.

Another fixture change comes in December, with the trip to Brighton & Hove Albion moving back a day to Tuesday December 29, with a 7.45pm kick-off.