IPSWICH Town chief executive Derek Bowden has insisted the club would not be rushed into buying players, especially at silly prices.This week we revealed that David Nugent and Bobo Balde, were the latest players Town are keen on but matters are a long way from being resolved.

Derek Davis

IPSWICH Town chief executive Derek Bowden has insisted the club would not be rushed into buying players, especially at silly prices.

This week we revealed that David Nugent and Bobo Balde, were the latest players Town are keen on but matters are a long way from being resolved.

While Nugent is a striker Jim Magilton wants, Bowden confirmed that things were still in an embryonic stage.

He said: “I can confirm no bid has been made for David Nugent.”

A deal for Balde could be difficult with the Celtic centre half currently believed to be on £28,000 a week and Birmingham City apparently prepared to match that.

Although manager Magilton is keen to continue adding to his squad, the window does not close until the end of August and another opens in January.

Bowden said: “We will add to the squad but it will be the right player, at the right time, for the right price.”

Bowden confirmed that although they have at least three targets in their sights, the only player, as of last night, that Town were close to signing was defender Ben Thatcher.

The free agent has finished a trial with Wolves but has not committed to any club as yet, although he is expected to make his mind up by next Wednesday.

Bowden said: “We are talking terms with Ben but no final decision has been made.

“We do have one or two other options, as does the player, and things will be sorted one way or another by the middle of the week.”

Reports linking Town with Albanian international Erjon Bogdani are well wide of the mark with Bowden laughing that one off with a polite: “No - I've never heard of him.”

Suggestions that Danny Shittu could be a target after his move to Rangers from Watford collapsed were also dismissed.

That Town would even be linked with a player that is understood to be asking for around £25,000 a week, after being paid a third of that in the Championship, shows that some agents believe Town to be awash with ready cash.

But while the club are prepared to do good deals they are refusing to be pushovers in negotiations and pay over the top for players and in wages.

They have paid out less than £3million for the four signings they have made so far, a considerable investment but not over the top.

Compared with, for example, Bristol City who splashed out a club record £2.25m for Nicky Maynard, valued at around £1.75m by Town, who struck a £750,000 deal with Colchester United for Kevin Lisbie who is a proven Championship goalscorer.

The Blues would like to trim their squad but offers to take their available players, either on loan or for a fee, are not exactly flooding in - but there is still plenty of time.