However, after watching the 34-year-old keep one of the best strikers in the division in Ricardo Fuller quiet last weekend, the defender should seriously reconsider.

De Vos's contract with the Blues runs out in the summer but Saturday's display showed the former Wigan man has a season left in him at the very least.

Whether the Blues' coaching staff feel the same is uncertain, but to lose De Vos would leave a big gap to fill at the heart of the defence.

While Magilton was looking for another defender in the January transfer window, it would have been to play alongside the veteran rather than replace him.

Fortunately the return to fitness of Richard Naylor has proved timely on that front, although the Blues are still understood to be in the market for another centre half on loan.

But with De Vos you get more than a defender. He has a presence around Portman Road that his team-mates look up to, and his father-figure role to the club's youngsters would be almost impossible to replace.

Yes, there are more mobile centre halves around but whatever division the Blues end up in next season, De Vos should remain at the hub of the club for at least one more year.

The Marcus Evans takeover has obviously changed the club's mindset with everything now geared towards promotion rather than simply staying afloat. But a semblance of continuity will be needed wherever Town are playing next year and De Vos could prove vital in providing it.

After making more than 150 appearances for the Blues, he knows exactly what it means to be an Ipswich Town player and will impress upon any new arrivals exactly the responsibilities that brings.

But if this does prove to be De Vos's last season then he has a great chance to sign off with a promotion-winning campaign.

Stoke City's defeat to Preston on Tuesday has thrown the door wide open to the chasing pack in a division that no team seems to want to win.

Despite Town slipping out of the play-off places last weekend after defeat to the Potters, the Blues still have the chance to make this a memorable season. If they can string together a series of wins, starting off against Southampton tomorrow, then the club's Premier League dream can be realised this campaign.

After all, that would be the kind of farewell De Vos deserves at the very least.

myfootballwriter.com/ipswichtown
In-depth Ipswich Town news & views – all day every day