THERE is a lull in activity on the transfer market, so Blues boss Jim Magilton took time out to tell the EADT what speculation involving Ipswich Town has some basis and what is total tripe.

By Derek Davis

THERE is a lull in activity on the transfer market, so Blues boss Jim Magilton took time out to tell the EADT what speculation involving Ipswich Town has some basis and what is total tripe.

As well as his well-known desire to secure Francis Jeffers, Magilton confirmed he was still keen to sign a ball-winning midfielder and that a move for Richard Wright was still a possibility - although not anywhere near imminent.

Magilton said: “We have identified two or three players and if we get them in then we can be competitive. We will keep going after Frannie and a ball-winning midfielder.

“Those we have identified I hope we can get, if not we will move on to the next one as there are plenty of free agents out there.”

The Irishman, who takes his UEFA 'A' licence in Belfast next week while the players enjoy a week's break, stressed that while those two or three players would be a priority, he was not targeting anyone else, and would only move for a defender in an emergency.

He said: “We are only looking at a couple of places for permanent deals. I'm sure we can manoeuvre the loan system if necessary. For example, Matt Bates is someone who would interest me as a loan deal, but it is a long way off and would only happen if we needed a centre-half as cover. But I'm not actively looking for a defender to sign permanently.”

He insisted that no clubs have made any inquiries or offers for Lewis Price or Shane Supple, ending the rumour that Town may sweeten their bid for Jeffers by offering them a keeper, with Wright linked with a move back to Portman Road.

Magilton said: “Nothing has moved on the Richard Wright situation. He has come back from holiday in Florida and we have not spoken with him yet. He has offers coming through and it is still all ifs and buts but nothing has happened.

“If we were to go down the road where we thought Richard could benefit Ipswich Town and it was an option, then the first people I would speak to are Lewis and Shane. I have already spoken briefly with them and told them not to panic.

“We have not had any inquiries from clubs for either of them.”

Magilton also shot down a lot of other rumours that have been bandied about over the summer.

He started by insisting that Alan Lee was not the subject of a £500,000 bid by Coventry City.

He said: “Coventry are not in for Alan Lee. We have not had anyone asking about him and Alan doesn't even have an agent, which shows he is not interested in going anywhere else.”

Magilton then dismissed reports that he was after Reading defender Alan Bennett. He said: “The Alan Bennett thing has come from nowhere and has no foundation. We have not asked about him.”