Ipswich Town will be among the favourites for Championship promotion in 25/26. Stuart Watson assesses the squad ahead of the main summer transfer window opening.
INS AND OUTS SO FAR
SOLD (1): Liam Delap (Chelsea, £30m)
LOANS EXPIRED (4): Jens Cajuste (Napoli), Kalvin Phillips (Man City), Julio Enciso (Brighton), Ben Godfrey (Atalanta).
RELEASED (2): Massimo Luongo, Marcus Harness.
BACK FROM LOANS: Harry Clarke (Sheff Utd), Ali Al-Hamadi (Stoke), Cameron Humphreys (Wycombe), Elkan Baggott (Blackpool).
GOALKEEPERS: Alex Palmer, Christian Walton, Aro Muric, Cieran Slicker
Is there a way back for Muric? Ipswich spent £8m to sign him from Burnley last summer. He had some good days (Brighton and Tottenham away), but they were overshadowed by far-too-regular costly high-profile errors.
The Kosovan was dropped at the end of 2024. When Walton suffered a groin strain, the Blues rushed to sign Palmer.
Kieran McKenna labelled Muric ‘extremely talented’ with ‘really high potential’ as recently as last December. Do Ipswich now try and rebuild an asset (he was a Championship winning goalkeeper in 22/23, remember) or simply work out a way to limit their losses?
I’d imagine the latter. The 26-year-old still has three years left on his deal, so won’t be easy to shift. My gut feeling is Town will loan him to a foreign club (somewhere in Turkey, maybe?), recoup some wages and hope he still retains some value in a year.
Next question: If Muric goes, then can Town carry two top-end Championship keepers in Palmer and Walton?
I really don’t think there’s a lot between them. Walton produced top performances against Liverpool and Chelsea last season. Palmer hit the ground running after his £2m switch from West Brom, but saw his form dip towards the end of the campaign.
Walton is 29 now and entering the final year of his contract. He won’t be keen to waste a third successive season warming the bench. Will he push for a move? Or will Ipswich persuade him to stay on the grounds that the shirt is genuinely up for grabs?
If Walton stays, I see recently-capped Scotland international Cieran Slicker going out on loan to get senior match experience. If Walton goes, the Blues may well put their faith in the 22-year-old to be second in line.
VERDICT: Muric begins the long goodbye, Palmer and Walton slug it out, Slicker develops on loan, with a third-choice training keeper – at either end of the age spectrum – brought in to make up the numbers.
RIGHT-BACKS: Axel Tuanzebe, Ben Johnson, Harry Clarke
Can Town keep Tuanzebe? He’s soon to be out of contract and the ex-Manchester United man, though not linked to anyone yet, will surely have Premier League suitors after some impressive displays last season. Ipswich will be pointing out they were the ones who built him back up from the depths of some injury despair and that, rather than risk being a squad man or suffering another relegation elsewhere, he should stay and be a key figure in project get back up and stay up.
The next question is, if Tuanzebe goes would McKenna be prepared to revert to playing a less tucked in and more forward-thinking right-back in the Championship?
Clarke’s swashbuckling style served Ipswich well in 2023/24. His Premier League preparations were not helped by surgery on both Achilles straight after promotion though and his recent loan spell at Sheffield United was disrupted by a foot issue. Having the ebullient Ipswich boy back in the squad will provide a morale lift, but it may be a big ask for him to rattle out the games from the off.
Johnson’s role next season intrigues me. This is a guy who now has 92 Premier League appearances to his name. I thought he’d play more last season, following a Bosman free arrival from West Ham, but McKenna seemed reluctant to deploy him at right-back. Instead, most of his minutes came further forwards.
VERDICT: If Tuanzebe goes, I could see Johnson being deployed as an adventurous right-back and Clarke building himself up in the background. If Tuanzebe stays (which I’m hoping will be the case), there’s an argument that Town could make a quick profit on Johnson (Fulham have been linked) and reinvest in other areas of the squad. Either way, no recruitment is required.
RIGHT-SIDED CENTRE-BACKS: Dara O’Shea, Luke Woolfenden
O’Shea played more minutes than anyone last season and was Town’s most consistent performer following a £12m move from Burnley.
Might, for a third time in his career, he get a Premier League move straight off the back of a relegation? Wolves, Leeds and former club Burnley are all said to be interested.
I can’t see it. The Republic of Ireland international is contracted until 2029, says he’s ‘fully committed’ and McKenna has told him how important of a player/leader he is in this squad.
Woolfenden, meanwhile, was a key man in the Championship promotion season and will be even better for his Premier League experiences. There will be times when his cool, ball-playing qualities are deemed most suited to the game plan.
VERDICT: O’Shea stays and is a key man both on and off the field. Woolfenden, contracted until 2027, is a superb back-up/rotation option.
LEFT-SIDED CENTRE-BACKS: Jacob Greaves, Cameron Burgess, Elkan Baggott
Greaves hit the ground running after his arrival from Hull City last summer, impressing in the gallant opening day defeat to Liverpool. The 24-year-old's form didn’t quite hit the same heights again following a two-month spell sidelined with a hamstring injury though. To be fair, it must have been hard to rebuild a rhythm in a constantly changing backline that was regularly facing world class attacks.
Ipswich paid £15m to sign Greaves for a reason. He’s got a remarkable amount of senior games under his belt for his age and was named in the 2023/24 Championship Team of the Year. The ceiling is undoubtedly high and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll start the majority of matches next season.
Can Ipswich persuade double promotion winning hero Cameron Burgess to sign a new deal and be a rock-solid back-up/rotation option? I’m not so sure. He’s 29, will want to play regularly, is likely to get a longer contract elsewhere and may just fancy a new challenge at somewhere like Rangers or Girona (the two who have been linked).
In an ideal world, Elkan Baggott would seamlessly step up as the back-up to Greaves. Had the 22-year-old played most of last season at Blackpool then that may well have been the case. Injuries restricted him to just 15 league starts though, so it’s probably wise for the Indonesian star to go out on loan again.
VERDICT: Greaves a regular starter, Burgess departs and Baggott goes out for a sixth loan. Leaves Ipswich needing to sign another left-sided centre-back.
LEFT-BACKS: Leif Davis, Conor Townsend, Somto Boniface
Ipswich would have the best left-back in the Championship if Davis stays.
He registered an incredible 18 assists in the 23/24 promotion season – the most ever from a defender in the second-tier – and it’s easy to overlook how many really good chances he created for the team in the Premier League too.
The 25-year-old had some difficult days, defensively, up against some of the world’s best wingers, and admits his confidence took a knock. But he’ll be better for the experience.
Nottingham Forest and West Ham are said to be interested in him. I’m really hoping Ipswich put off suitors with a sizeable price tag and then get a more settled team functioning better around the Geordie’s cover-the-entire-left-side role.
Conor Townsend, a more solid defensive option when required, has loads of Championship experience and is a damn good alternative.
It’s likely that 19-year-old Somto Boniface, who arrived from Chelsea in January, goes out on loan.
VERDICT: Two superb options for the level with differing attributes. No recruitment required.
RIGHT-SIDED CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Sam Morsy
Following Kalvin Phillips’ return to Man City, Town are left with just the one player for the right-sided sitting midfield role.
Morsy was the driving force behind back-to-back promotions. He then started 31 games in the Premier League. I can’t say he ever looked glaringly out of place, but I’d also argue that the centre of the pitch was an area of weakness for Town on the way to relegation.
The skipper will turn 34 in September. Will McKenna make him the heartbeat of the side again? Personally, I’d have no issue with that. He looks as robust and motivated as ever.
I’d also understand why the devout Muslim might fancy a move to Saudi Arabia at this stage of his career and how Ipswich could see that an opportunity to freshen up the engine room.
VERDICT: Either one or two players required, depending if Morsy stays/goes. It may not be the sexiest role in the team, but it’s a vital one. This is the player who has to sniff danger and be nerveless in starting moves from deep. Aggression and passing ability would be the attributes I’d be prioritising in the data dashboard.
LEFT-SIDED CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS: Jack Taylor, Cameron Humphreys
Town have two good players here, but are either of them going to be trusted to be the main man in a team gunning for promotion?
Taylor made 32 Premier League appearances last season, but 28 of them were off the bench. He’s got bite and the ability to score from range, but personally I see the Republic of Ireland international as more of an advanced midfielder.
Humphreys, meanwhile, is perfectly suited to this left-sided centre midfield role. Like the now departed Massimo Luongo, one of his best attributes is football IQ. He’s played left-back before, so would naturally be able to cover the spaces left by the forward-thinking Davis, and would also be able to get forwards from deep after developing the attacking side of his game during an impressive loan spell at League One club Wycombe (7G, 6A). That was his first proper season of men’s football though and the 21-year-old still has some filling out to do.
Ipswich are exploring whether it’s viable to bring the silky Jens Cajuste back following his impressive loan spell from Napoli. There’s no doubting he could be a standout player in the Championship, but are the Swede’s knees up the rigours of relentless Saturday-Tuesday action? Chairman Mark Ashton says the deal has to be right for all parties.
VERDICT: Signing required. Hope it’s Cajuste, but only at the right price. A big, physical ball-carrier is what’s required.
RIGHT-WING: Wes Burns, Chiedozie Ogbene, Jaden Philogene
This bespoke role was integral to Town’s rise under McKenna. A speedy, straight-line runner that stays high and right when Town have the ball, but who can also drop in and defend when required.
Injuries decimated this area of the team in the Premier League. Ogbene suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in October, Burns’ campaign was cut short by an ACL injury in January, then January addition Philogene suffered an MCL injury in April. Ben Johnson (traditionally a right-back) and Omari Hutchinson (who McKenna wants to develop as a No.10) were both used as alternatives.
Ogbene is due to be involved in pre-season training, while Burns is a little further behind with his recovery. It’s hard to know if their key attribute – pace – will be the same when they return to action.
VERDICT: Difficult one this. Ipswich can’t bank on Ogbene/Philogene/Burns being at full tilt during a high pressure start, but they also won’t want to block their return pathways either. I can see McKenna making do with Hutchinson/Johnson during the early part of the campaign. There’s an argument Hutchinson’s more effective there anyway. Getting someone in on loan would be the alternative.
RIGHT-SIDED NO.10s: Omari Hutchinson, Conor Chaplin
It’s clear that McKenna’s preference is to play Hutchinson as the right-sided No.10 given 19 of his 30 starts were in that role last season.
Will that be the case next season though? Firstly, there’s a chance someone might trigger his £35m relegation release clause yet. Plenty of eyes will be on his performances for England at the already underway European U21 Championships. Secondly, as discussed, he might be needed on the right if he does stay.
Either of the above scenarios would open the door for Chaplin to become the main man once more. The diminutive forward was a key cog in a well-oiled machine during back-to-back promotions, providing some attacking glue and popping up in the right places to score. A knee injury played its part in him being restricted to 10 Premier League starts. The 28-year-old will be keen to remind people what he’s all about in 25/26.
VERDICT: Hutchinson on the right and Chaplin as the right-sided 10 worked well the last time Town were in the Championship. If Hutchinson departs, his X-Factor will need replacing (not easy). If he stays, there’s an argument that one more player who can play this role would be handy for squad depth.
LEFT-SIDED NO.10s: Sammie Szmodics, Jack Clarke, Nathan Broadhead
Arguably the strongest area of Town’s squad given there are three very good and varied options.
Szmodics is an energetic, in-your-face, last shoulder runner with a composed finish. He was the Championship top scorer in 2023/24 with 27 goals for Blackburn. After his £9m switch to the Blues, the Republic of Ireland international scored at Man City, Tottenham, Brentford and Fulham in the Premier League. Let’s hope his troublesome ankle injury gets sorted this summer. His edge is going to be required in the muck and bullets of this relentless league.
Clarke is an out-and-out dribbler who can glide past people to get you up the pitch, win a foul or create/score a goal. He lit up the Championship at former club Sunderland and quietly found his feet in a difficult adaptation season at Portman Road. I’m looking forward to seeing what the £15m man can do once he’s got his first Ipswich pre-season under his belt. On the days where Town face a stubborn low block, he could be the key to unlocking the door.
Then there’s Broadhead, the man whose 13 Championship goals helped fire Town to promotion. The classy Welshman is all about first touch and crisp ball striking.
VERDICT: If all three stay, then that’s an incredible selection of players for one position. Given McKenna likes to make multiple attacking changes in a game, I think he’ll be happy to carry a large forward unit.
STRIKERS: George Hirst, Ali Al-Hamadi
Premier League talisman Liam Delap has departed, but the general consensus is that Town already have their replacement starting striker in Hirst.
The 27-year-old scored seven goals when Town were promoted from the Championship, despite missing a big chunk of that campaign with a knee injury. He then made the most of every opportunity that came his way last season, scoring five goals from 833 minutes of action. Having just notched his first goal for Scotland, he’ll be raring to go.
Given his repeated injury set-backs over the last two years, however, it would be far too risky to rely on Hirst starting 40+ games.
As it stands, the only back-up is Al-Hamadi. The 23-year-old was playing League Two football with AFC Wimbledon at the start of 2024, played his part in Town’s Championship promotion following a £1m+ January switch, but was underprepared for the Premier League following summer groin surgery. The Iraqi international is a raw and enthusiastic chase-and-attack-everything crowd lifter. He’ll have improved following a six-month loan spell at Stoke, but is he at the level Ipswich will require though? That’s for McKenna and his staff to quickly assess.
VERDICT: Town found themselves short of strikers midway through the Championship promotion season and were left understocked in that area at the start of last season too. That cannot happen again. At least one new front man is required, arguably two. The Blues have made enquiries about young talent Marc Guiu (Chelsea) and Divin Mubama (Man City).
OVERALL VERDICT
Chairman Mark Ashton has said ‘there will be a small element of churn’, but that he ‘wants to retain the bulk of the squad’ and that it won’t be anywhere the 12 additions of last summer.
With that in mind, I’ve got Town needing to sign between five and seven players this summer: A Burgess replacement (if he goes), two or three central midfielders, a versatile attacker and one or two strikers.
Getting the central midfield revamp right could be make or break for next season. It’s not impossible that the two engine room starters are not currently in the building. Not far behind in terms of importance is making sure that there are enough top quality striker options to share the burden.
