Mick McCarthy believes Liverpool duo Harry Wilson and Sheyi Ojo want to sign permanently for a club this summer but admitted it is unlikely that club will be Cardiff City.
Both players have enjoyed positive spells while on loan at Cardiff City Stadium this season, however their futures at Anfield remain uncertain.
Wilson and Ojo, 24 and 23 respectively, have both been sent out on loans for the last few years as they tried to prove to their parent club they were ready to make the step up, but the pair are now hitting crunch point in their careers.
Reports continue to suggest they will both be part of a firesale at Anfield this summer, with Jurgen Klopp hoping to drum up the cash to assemble a squad which can once again mount an assault on the Premier League title next term.
It is widely acknowledged that both Wilson and Ojo do not fit into the manager's plans at Anfield and McCarthy said both players want permanent homes next season.
However, he all but ruled out a return to the Welsh capital for either of them.
"I don't think that will be the case," he said when asked if they could return to the Bluebirds next term. "Both Harry and Sheyi have got a year left and a year's option apparently.
"Harry has been at about four clubs and he wants a home somewhere, he wants to play permanently somewhere, and so does Sheyi.
"Loaning them out next year they'd be in the last year of their contract. Liverpool are going to have to sort themselves out - that's nothing to do with us.
"Would I have them back? Yeah, of course, they're really good players. But I don't think it will happen."
While there was always an acceptance that Wilson would be too pricey for City, Ojo was always considered attainable. But that now seems unlikely to happen.
With McCarthy also having confirmed that striker Robert Glatzel will be sold this summer, there is a real dearth of attacking options now appearing as we look ahead to next season.
We are already beginning to see the manager's transfer plans take shape as we speed towards the end of the season, with forwards certainly on the agenda when the window opens.
