Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy admits he is frustrated at not being able to able to get transfer deals done.

The Blues boss has spent the biggest fee of his three-and-a-half years in charge at Portman Road to bring in centre-back Adam Webster from League Two side Portsmouth (£700k plus Matt Clarke). The only other summer addition has been the free transfer of recent loanee Paul Digby though.

With less than two weeks to go until his side’s Championship opener against newly-promoted Barnsley, at Portman Road, McCarthy’s only recognised winger is the transfer-listed Cameron Stewart.

Asked for an update on potential incoming players, following Saturday’s 1-1 pre-season draw at League Two side Cambridge United, the Blues boss replied: “There’s no update. We’re still working on it. Hopefully we’ll get something, but at the moment there’s nothing.”

Pressed on the issue further, he said: “We’ve tried and we just can’t do it at the moment. We’ll just keep trying. There is a bit of frustration, but it’s not through lack of trying.”

Only willing to say that deals hadn’t been done for ‘various reasons’, McCarthy continued: “The frustration is not with the club or (owner) Marcus (Evans), it’s just the fact we can’t get anything done. A lot of it stems from the fact a lot of players are away on pre-season tours.

“I take the view they are all doing pre-season elsewhere, so if we get one in the week leading up to the season, or even the week after, then they will be ready to go.”

There have been national reports in the last few days saying there has been interest in Tommy Smith (Fulham) and Daryl Murphy (Newcastle and Fulham).

“Good old agents hey? The paper never refused ink, that’s for sure,” joked McCarthy. “Nobody has made a phone call to me.”

With Smith now in the final year of his contract, McCarthy said: “We’re in negotiations with him. Where they are at I’m not sure. I leave that to Marcus (Evans).”

And on Murphy, who made his first start of pre-season at the weekend following the extended break he was given after representing the Republic of Ireland at Euro 2016, McCarthy said: “Likewise, I haven’t had any calls about him, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any interest because he had a good European Championships. I sincerely hope (there’s not interest) though. And anyway, he’s on a long contract with us. We don’t have to sell anybody. That’s a discussion I’ve had with Marcus (Evans) today.”