New Birmingham City manager Tony Mowbray says he thinks Ipswich Town target Jay Stansfield wants to stay at St Andrew's, but admits there is still a possibility of a departure.

The EADT and Ipswich Star revealed that Stansfield was a January transfer window target for Town last month, with Kieran McKenna's need to bolster his front line having subsequently intensified following a long-term injury to George Hirst.

Stansfield, 21, has scored eight goals for Birmingham so far this season, with former manager Wayne Rooney - sacked earlier this month - having revealed that there was a 'small window' for parent club Fulham to recall him from a season-long loan this month.

"No, it hasn’t closed,” Mowbray told Birmingham World, when asked about that situation.

“I’ve been trying to get hold of Mark O’Sullivan over the last couple of days. I get on well with Mark. I’m pretty sure he would’ve been telling me if there were any issues or problems.

“I think the kid loves it here, ultimately. I had a one-on-one, I looked him in the eye. There are other interested parties but I think he wants to stay here and score goals. He likes the dressing room, he likes the players. I think he’s here just to progress his career.

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“If he wants to play in the Premier League, he needs to be playing in the Championship and you need to be careful sometimes when the perception of a more successful club comes along near the top of the table. You’ve got to be careful that you don’t go there and play two games of the last 19. 

“There’s every chance he’s going to play just about all the minutes in this team. I think he’s in a good place here. I don’t know, there’s a small tight window for things to happen.”

Hirst's hamstring surgery and Tottenham's recall of Dane Scarlett has left Ipswich's striker options as Kayden Jackson and Freddie Ladapo as the club chases promotion to the Premier League.

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The Daily Express has reported that Blackburn do not want to sell striker Sam Gallagher after turning down a bid of '£1m plus bonuses' from Ipswich.

Speaking last week, McKenna said: "It's an area we want to add to, but I'd imagine maybe 80% of the clubs in the Championship are trying to add a forward or striker to their ranks though.

"There are only so many available, there are only so many available that are within our budget and most of those are currently involved with a team who don't want to lose them.

"The club are working hard to make additions in that area, but there's nothing that we've been successful with yet. We'll see how the next couple of weeks in the window go."