Nottingham Forest and Glasgow Rangers have been linked with moves for Ipswich Town pair Luke Chambers and Christophe Berra respectively.
Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy
Ipswich Town have dealt a blow to Nottingham Forest and Glasgow Rangers’ hopes of landing defenders Luke Chambers and Christophe Berra respectively.
Forest’s attempt to re-sign Chambers at the end of the January transfer window proved unsuccessful, although the player’s desire to return to the club at which he spent five seasons earlier in his career suggested that a summer switch could be on the cards.
City Ground target Luke Chambers
Chambers’ partner in crime Berra has also been tipped to move on following reported interest from Rangers (Edinburgh Evening Times), after intimating he would like to move back to his native Scotland.
Both players’ contracts are due to expire at the end of the campaign, leaving them free to leave Portman Road should they wish to.
However, that now may now prove difficult, with Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy confirming at Thursday’s press conference that the Tractor Boys will be exercising their option to extend the pair’s deals until 2018.
“Their options will be exercised and then we can deal with it afterwards,” McCarthy said, as quoted by TWTD.co.uk.
“Whether there’s any negotiation over and beyond that one-year option, that’s for them and their agents to talk to Marcus (Evans, the Ipswich chairman) about.”
On whether the pair would like to stay at Ipswich, McCarthy added: “Chambo, of course (he would). But Christophe, it’s been well publicised that he has a commitment up in Edinburgh with his daughter and he’d like to be there.
Reported Ibrox target Christophe Berra (left)
“But we’ve an option on him.”
Both Forest (Hildeberto Pereira and Michael Mancienne) and Rangers (Clint Hill and Philippe Senderos) are expected to lose defenders of their own when their contracts expire this summer.
And while the pair – under new managers Mark Warburton (Forest) and Pedro Caixinha (Rangers) – could still return for Chambers and Berra respectively, Ipswich are now within their rights to ask for a fee before securing the players’ release.
Should Nottingham Forest and Glasgow Rangers continue their pursuit of the Ipswich Town defenders?
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