Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has admitted that he is unsure how active the club will be in the January transfer window.

A host of Championship sides are preparing to spend big next month as they push for promotion, while the Tractor Boys are hoping to strengthen to avoid being drawn into a relegation battle.

McCarthy's side have endured a tough start to the season, winning just three times in their last 14 league games to sit five points above the dropzone, and although McCarthy confirmed that he has funds available, he thinks that it will be a difficult month to get business done.

"We'll see what happens and who's available – it's never a great month to do it, never a great window," he told the Ipswich Star. "Apparently Birmingham have got 10 million quid to spend – well that's going to go a long way in the Championship, isn't it? Ross McCormack cost more than that. To get players that are really going to improve you costs a lot.

"We'll see what we can get. I've been on the phone and we're all the same – 'it depends if this happens or that happens', you never get anything definitive because people are not sure what they might get in.

"Bringing lads in with no experience in the Championship can always be difficult. We're into January and the season ends in May. It takes some of them quite a while to get used to it. Can I guarantee a signing? No, I can't, not at all."

Town travel to struggling Wigan Athletic on Saturday in their final game before Christmas.