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‘It’s not my decision’ – McCarthy confirms Palace interest in Bialkowski
Bartosz Bialkowski, pictured at his Suffolk home. Picture: Sarah Lucy Brown - Credit: Archant
Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy says owner Marcus Evans will decide if Bartosz Bialkowski is sold during the January transfer window.
The 30-year-old Polish custodian has twice been named Blues Supporters’ Player of the Year and is now in the final year of his contract, albeit the club holding the option to extend by a further 12 months.
He has been linked to Premier League club Crystal Palace, with national reports suggesting a £4m price tag has been put on his head.
“Everybody knows Palace are in for a goalkeeper and I think every agent and their mother, brother, sister got involved and started putting names into Palace,” said McCarthy.
“I asked Palace, I rang them up because all that dancing round the handbags is nonsense – just ring up and ask.
“He was on a list of six goalkeepers, could have been six or 10, and somebody will have put him in there as one of the best in the Championship, and that’s where we are.
“He was on a list, he may still be on it or it may be in the bin.”
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The Blues boss added: “It’s not about stumping up the money I think he’s worth, it’s about stumping up the money Marcus (Evans) thinks he’s worth. It’s not my decision, that.
“I think it would be pretty restrictive, what Marcus thinks he’s worth, because we all think he’s a top, top goalkeeper.”
When asked if that meant it was Evans decision whether to sell or not, McCarthy confirmed: “Nobody can buy my house without my say so and it’s no different.”
He added: “The upshot of it is Bart came here on a free transfer (from Notts County) and has been wonderful.
“It’s almost like it would be unacceptable for him to continue to play in the Championship if a bid came in at a certain level and he wanted to play in the Premier League.
“Everybody wants to be there, the promised land.”
