Ipswich Town boss Jim Magilton is interested in Chris Birchall, but not moved for him.
Ipswich Town manager Jim Magilton is interested in midfielder Chris Birchall, but insisted he has not made a move for the Port Vale man.The 22-year-old impressed many with his displays for Trinidad & Tobago at this summer's World Cup finals, having faced Sweden, England and Paraguay in Germany.
Town and East Anglian rivals Norwich City have been mentioned with Birchall, while Premiership new boys Reading and Sheffield United are also thought to be monitoring the player.
Magilton expressed his admiration for the Vale youngster, but stressed that Birchall's international commitments may prove a problem.
"We have been looking at Chris's situation, but have not had any conversations with him, his agent or Port Vale," Magilton told the East Anglian Daily Times.
"The Vale manager, Martin Foyle, is an old friend of mine from our days at Oxford, but I have not spoken to him about Chris.
"He has done very well, but there would be complications with his international commitments for Trinidad & Tobago, so there are many things to consider."
The former Northern Ireland international has also played down reports linking the Portman Road club with the Rangers duo of Nacho Novo and Gavin Rae.
One Ipswich player to be handed a new lease on life is Spaniard Castro Sito after Magilton removed him from the transfer list.
Sito was told he could find pastures new by former Town boss Joe Royle at the end of the season, despite having a deal until the summer of 2008.
Magilton, however, has given the defender a new chance to impress this pre-season.
"He has come back in outstanding physical shape, probably the best of all the players and has shown a tremendous attitude," added the Ipswich boss.
"It often takes foreign players time to settle in, but he has done so very quickly and did well last season.
"He is a likeable guy, who is popular and deserves his chance.
"He needs to eradicate the mistakes in his game and that is what we are intending to do."
