Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy hopes the club can stave off any interest in Daryl Murphy and has revealed that a ‘ridiculous’ loan bid was recently made for the star striker – believed to be from Sheffield Wednesday.

Republic of Ireland international Murphy is a wanted man after finishing last season as the Championship’s 27-goal top-scorer, with it understood that a £4.5m bid from division rivals Middlesbrough has already been rejected.

Newly-promoted Norwich are also believed to be very much interested, while Premier League clubs such as Stoke, West Brom and Leicester have all been linked.

The 32-year-old effectively has two years left on his Portman Road deal and it’s understood that Town would start considering a sale if the bidding reached £5m.

A ludicrous season-long loan offer – believed to be made by Sheffield Wednesday staff member Glenn Roeder – was therefore laughed at.

“Is there any interest in him? Of course there is, he’s just scored 27 goals in a season and was outstanding,” said McCarthy, following his side’s comfortable 6-0 pre-season win at Irish side Shelbourne on Saturday.

“I’ve even had one club ring up and ask if we would loan him. That was outstanding that!

“He said ‘just give me a one word answer’ because he knew that if he asked for a two word answer what the response would be. I had to think of something else sharp and witty, which I managed.

“It was somewhat ridiculous. Maybe they were winding me up? I don’t know. I don’t think they were.”

With Murphy, David McGoldrick and Christophe Berra all still enjoying their extended summer breaks following end-of-season international action, McCarthy continued: “I actually prefer it when there’s interest in my players because it means they’ve played well.

“You don’t want to lose your best players and I think we proved that last year when we turned down three-and-a-half million quid for Tyrone Mings. We’ve just sold him for eight million quid, but that’s a different ball game.

“It was the same with David McGoldrick (when a £7m+ bid from Leicester was turned down last August) and I’m hoping it’s going to be the same with Daryl Murphy and that any interest can be staved off.”

Town have got contingency plans in place, should Murphy depart, with it understood that powerful Birmingham City striker Clayton Donaldson, 31, is on a list of potential replacements.