Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy plans on further strengthening his squad before the start of the new season, but insists he won’t pay over the odds for players.

The Blues boss has been restricted almost entirely to free transfers, Bosmans and loans during his two-and-a-half years in charge at Portman Road, but it’s understood that – following the recent £8m sale of left-back Tyrone Mings to Bournemouth – owner Marcus Evans has given him the green light to finally spend some significant cash on transfer fees,

It’s understood that a seven-figure bid is in the offing for an attacking midfielder, while contingency plans are in place should in demand striker Daryl Murphy – believed to be valued at £5m – be sold.

Asked whether he is ready to spend some of the Mings money, McCarthy replied: “If I identify the right players, that we need, and we can get them, then yes. We’re not just going ‘we’ve got eight million quid, let’s go and spend it’ though.

“Let me tell you, when you do get a few quid from selling somebody then everybody else doubles their values when you try and buy. We’re not going to get drawn into all of that.”

It must be nice to finally have a bit of latitude when it comes to spending on transfer fees though?

“Yes, but only for the right ones,” he said. “You can go out and spend a few quid and not end up with anyone better than what you’ve already got.

“We won’t be rushing out to spend for the sake of spending, that’s for sure.

“We’re trying to get better players in all the time though. We certainly didn’t get enough goals from midfield and wide areas last season.”

Having started pre-season with a comfortable 6-0 win at Irish second tier side Shelbourne last weekend, Town take on German second tier outfit Fortuna Dusseldorf on Friday night. Daryl Murphy, David McGoldrick and Christophe Berra will link up with the squad after being given an extended summer break following their end-of-season international exerts.