Former Celt Daryl Murphy is the Championship’s in-demand striker.
Twenty-seven goals for Ipswich last season coupled with his contract ending in 12 months has put the Ireland striker into the plans of most Championship clubs.
Cardiff City were the first club to register their interest with Middlesbrough and Burnley believed to be keeping tabs on Murphy.
Neil Lennon signed Murphy in 2010 but the form of the Gary Hooper/Anthony Stokes partnership limited Murphy’s chances with a loan move agreed to Ipswich the following season. After a year at Portman Road the move was made permanent with little in the way of details emerging.
Former Celt’s Martin O’Neill, Tony Cascarino and Mick McCarthy have all been singing the praises of the striker with his club boss in no doubt about Murphy’s value.
The Ipswich boss said: “As much as I like Patrick Bamford (on loan to Middlesbrough from Chelsea)– I think he is a terrific player – Murph has scored more goals and he has scored more in a squad that was pretty unfancied at the start of the season.
“He is the one that has the dragged us with his boot laces (into the play-offs) with all the goals he has scored. He has been brilliant.
“Patrick Bamford is a Chelsea player. He is a Premier League footballer on loan. Daryl Murphy is a Championship football player at a Championship club.
“Congratulations to Patrick, because he is a terrific player, but I think Murph deserved it.”
O’Neill is likely to choose between Murphy and Robbie Keane to lead the line against Scotland on Saturday.
