IPSWICH boss Jim Magilton is ready to launch a £1 million spending spree.He will spring into action next month when the transfer window re-opens, aiming to sign at least two new players.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH boss Jim Magilton is ready to launch a £1 million spending spree.

He will spring into action next month when the transfer window re-opens, aiming to sign at least two new players.

Magilton confirmed his planned raid on the market would not depend on being able to unload players who are surplus to requirements.

It could be a busy month at Portman Road as the Town boss finally gets his hands on a transfer kitty that could be spent on permanent signings, loan deals or a mixture of both.

The August sales of Ian Westlake, Sam Parkin and Nicky Forster brought in almost exactly £1 million in fees from Leeds, Luton and Hull respectively.

Magilton said: “I would like to bring in two, possibly three, more bodies if we can get the right ones who bring the right attitude to the team.

“I will need to assess the squad at the time because of the various players we have on loan as well as those who are out on loan at other clubs.”

Some of the cash will definitely be used to recruit on-loan winger Gary Roberts from Accrington Stanley, who have already agreed a deal in principle.

Town will add around £200,000 to the £50,000 they have already paid to take the player on loan, even if his form in netting twice in ten appearances has apparently attracted the interest of others.

Magilton will also need to decide whether or not he wishes to pursue further loan deals for Simon Walton and Jon Macken, who are due to return to Charlton and Crystal Palace respectively.

He has said he would welcome back midfielder Mark Noble from West Ham but that move will depend on the Hammers' choice as successor to Alan Pardew, who was sacked on Monday.

“I think the new manager will only be impressed with Mark - his ability as well as his attitude - so we'll have to wait and see on that one,” said Magilton.

“The new manager will want time to assess his playing staff.

“There are one or two others at West Ham who we quite fancied, so it is going to affect us in some way.

“We have been looking at a lot of Premiership clubs, not just West Ham, with a view as to who might be available in January to strengthen us.”

Even if he no longer figures in the manager's plans, it would assist Ipswich financially if Darren Currie joined Coventry on a permanent basis. He has impressed in four games - two wins and two draws - on loan at the Ricoh Stadium.

Magilton's priority remains an experienced defender, someone who is ideally at home in the right-back role, while his admission that he has ordered reports on Rotherham hot-shot Will Hoskins suggests he is also keen to boost his attacking options.

He added: “I believe we could do with a bit more experience at the back and we have been looking at a number of players.”