Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna says George Edmundson and Marcus Harness could still have a future at the club.
Having played important roles in the Blues' back-to-back promotions from League One into the Premier League, the senior duo were allowed to join Championship clubs on season-long loans late on transfer deadline day.
Centre-back Edmundson, 27, joined Middlesbrough, while attacker Harness, 28, moved to Derby. Both are now in the final year of their contracts.
"The whole group has such an emotional attachment to each other with what we've been through over the last couple of years, so anytime anyone moves on it's always difficult," said McKenna.
"But I think the positive is that when players leave you want them to be leaving in a better position than what they were.
"When people have left here in the last few years that's been the case. Greg Leigh leaves last summer, a top character, goes to Oxford and gets promotion. Kayden Jackson leaves this summer, an important part of what we did, gets a long contract at a big club in Derby and starts the season well.
"Even the boys who were on loan. Lewis Travis, Jeremy Sarmiento, Kieffer (Moore) - they all had a good experience here, progressed their careers and a couple of those boys have started the season really well. Jeremy's just got another good loan move (to Burnley). Gassan Ahadme wasn't here that long, but has gone on to get a good move to Charlton. That's always something that gives you a good feeling.
"Players always go with our best wishes. And when you go on loan it certainly doesn't mean that it's the end of your time at a football club. Sometimes it's just the right thing for players to go and get minutes."
Homegrown duo Elkan Baggott (21) and Cameron Humphreys (20) are also currently on loan at League One clubs Blackpool and Wycombe respectively.
Ipswich, who signed 12 new players for transfer fees in excess of £100m+ this summer, return to Premier League action after an international break with a trip to Brighton on Saturday.
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