Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy has labelled claims Christophe Berra will quit the club to rejoin Hearts this month as "ridiculous".

The Scotland international has been a key player for the English Championship side this term, playing 28 games for the East Anglia outfit.

Various reports indicated the 31-year-old was looking to return north in this transfer window having played in England since his 2009 transfer to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Asked about Berra, McCarthy told reporters: "That is just ridiculous. Have you seen how many players we've had recently, the squad and the substitutes we've had?

"And I would be settling up Christophe Berra's contract, who has played every single game? I don't think so.

"How ridiculous that rumour is. There are rumours that might be close to the truth but that's as far away from the truth as you can get. It's nuts."

On Berra's potential return to Scotland, McCarthy added: "He's not heading back now, he's got eight weeks off in the summer, he can do what he wants then.

"We've got an option on him (to activate a clause in his contract for another 12 months). He's our player for the next 18 months if that's what we want to do.

"I can't see any reason why I wouldn't want to keep Christophe Berra, he's been different class, he's arguably been our best defender for the last four years.

"He's certainly been one of the top ones and has consistently played. He's staying here as far as I'm concerned."

Hearts are in the market for a new defender following Igor Rossi's sudden departure to Al-Faisaly Harmah in Saudi Arabia.

Berra started his career at Hearts under Craig Levein, who is currently director of football at Tynecastle.

Ian Cathro has already had to reshape his defence this month, completing deals for Aaron Hughes and Lennard Sowah while Alim Ozturk has departed for Turkey.