Ipswich Town: Kieran McKenna speaks on deal for Aston Villa winger Jaden Philogene and links with Liverpool forward Ben Doak on loan at Middlesbrough

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has addressed the club’s deal to sign Aston Villa winger Jaden Philogene and the links with a teenage forward.

The Blues boss said the deal to sign the 22-year-old is not yet complete as far as he’s aware.

SuffolkNews’ media partners TWTD understand the attacker was at Portman Road yesterday and that he passed his medical after the two Premier League sides had agreed a fee of £22 million plus add-ons.

Philogene has agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Tractor Boys.

When asked about the Englishman, McKenna said: “There’s nothing to say really.

“He’s an Aston Villa player first and foremost and there’s no deal or completion, as far as I’m aware at the moment.

“Until that changes, or if that changes, I’m sure the club will announce.”

Philogene won't be available for the Blues for Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Bristol Rovers as the deadline for him to have signed today has passed.

Town have reportedly shown an interest in 19-year-old forward Ben Doak, who is on loan at Middlesbrough from Liverpool.

Asked about Doak, McKenna said: “No, again a Liverpool player on loan at Middlesbrough, so no comment from us on that.”

Boro boss Michael Carrick insisted that Doak has remained focused on performing for the Teessiders despite the speculation regarding the teenager’s future.

According to TWTD, Carrick said: “He (Doak) is absolutely fine, no problem, no difference.

“He just gets on with his work as he has from day one. It suits him here. It's a good place to be, he's enjoying his football, he's learning, developing, having a great experience.

“I've got nothing but positive things to say about Ben.”

The former Manchester United midfielder added: “There's no denying some of it is out of our hands but I'm really calm and content.

“Hopefully it plays out and we're all happy and we still have Ben. We're in a good place and it's a good place for him.”

McKenna said that Town defender Harry Clarke could go out on loan in January for regular football with a number of Championship clubs interested including Sheffield United.

The 23-year-old right-back may get less minutes now Ben Godfrey has joined from Atlanta.

“There's a possibility that Harry Clarke will go out on loan, a possibility at the moment,” McKenna said.

“Me and Harry have had those conversations. He's an important player for us, a very good player.

“He had a big surgery [on both achilles tendons] and played through some injury at the back end of last season. He had big surgery in the summer, so he missed a few months of football.

“He has had some minutes now in the Premier League and some exposure but for his age as a young defender it's important to be getting minutes regularly for his progression and for his role at the club.

“So, if everything is in a good place in the squad over the next week or two from an availability point of view, there's a chance that Harry will go out on loan to get some regular playing time to keep pushing with his development.”

McKenna also said there are no immediate plans to send Iraqi international Ali Al-Hamadi out on loan, although that could change if the Blues sign another striker.