Some Ipswich Town fans are feeling a bit anxious following the departures of Liam Delap, Massimo Luongo, Cameron Burgess and Axel Tuanzebe, but the Blues have already have a strong core ahead of their Championship return.
Alex Jones takes a look at what their strongest starting lineup would be if the season started tomorrow...
Alex Palmer
Starting off in goal, where there are plenty of options. It will surely be Alex Palmer in the XI next season.
The 28-year-old has consistently performed at the level, having won the Golden Glove during the 2023/24 campaign with West Brom. He’s a secure shot-stopper who should be one of the best in the Championship.
Hopefully it will be Christian Walton supporting him, with Aro Muric’s future in doubt and Cieran Slicker in desperate need of a loan spell.
Ben Johnson
This one has been the big question mark for a while.
Will Axel Tuanzebe stay? Will he go? Ultimately, it's the latter - a move to Burnley completed on Thursday night. He's a big miss, despite his injury issues, but I'm honestly not that worried about his exit.
I have a lot of faith in Ben Johnson, who I think deserves to be the starting right-back next season. Yes, there have been some concerns about him in a deeper role in the Premier League, but he's now in the Championship. I think he'll be more than fine defensively, offering real quality going forward.
With Harry Clarke supporting him after his loan spell at Sheffield United, I don't think Town will need to recruit, but there are plenty of options if they decide to do so.
Dara O’Shea
Linked with Leeds United, Burnley and Wolves? None of that, thanks. Dara O’Shea is here to stay. A new five-year deal that will see him stick with Town in the Championship.
That’s exciting. There’s a reason why, after previous relegations, he’s been able to earn Premier League moves. He was consistent for Ipswich in the top flight and will now have a first full season in the second tier since 2022/23.
He’ll be a nailed-on starter and the stand-in captain when Morsy isn’t on the pitch, with Luke Woolfenden able to step in at right-sided centre-back when required.
Jacob Greaves
Cameron Burgess has gone, so Ipswich are a little light on left-footed centre-backs, but regardless of what happens in the transfer window, Jacob Greaves will be the first choice in that position.
A hit-and-miss Premier League campaign last season, where he impressed at the beginning and the end but looked a little off the pace in the middle. This is the Championship though, and the 24-year-old was named in the Team of the Season last time he played at this level.
A partnership of him and O'Shea should be rock-solid in the second tier. If the season started tomorrow, they would be the starters, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.
Leif Davis
Yes, Leif Davis didn’t have a great season in the Premier League like many of us expected, but he certainly wasn’t disastrous and now finds himself back in the Championship.
He’s spoken before about perhaps needing another year at this level, and he now looks set for that. Don’t forget, his last second-tier campaign saw him register 18 assists from left-back.
With Conor Townsend supporting him and Greaves able to move over if required, this area of the pitch should be good to go heading into the new season.
Sam Morsy
Ipswich’s captain certainly makes the strongest lineup, but it’s the weakest area of the pitch at the moment. That being said, I believe that this midfield partnership would still be good enough in the Championship.
Sam Morsy makes up one half of it. There were times where he looked a bit off the pace with the intensity of the Premier League, but he’s largely been impressive and consistent.
There have been rumours about a potential summer exit, but I just can’t see it. He’ll be the man to lead Town into the 2025/26 season, even if a signing or two will be required to help him out.
Jack Taylor
Jack Taylor starts alongside him in this team. Of course, there’s a lack of depth right now, with Cameron Humphreys the only viable alternative after finishing his impressive loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers, but in my eyes, this would still be a strong partnership.
Taylor has been at Ipswich for two seasons now, but he’s yet to have a run of consistent starts. He’s shown some glimpses of real quality since signing in the summer of 2023 and I believe that some more minutes will help him fulfil his potential.
There will be competition for him, but people shouldn’t be writing him off at this stage. He’s got a lot left to give.
Omari Hutchinson
I’m going to leave out injured duo Chiedozie Ogbene and Wes Burns for now. It remains to be seen whether the former will be fit enough to feature on opening day, while the latter will almost certainly be ruled out for a while yet.
That leaves Omari Hutchinson, who can play anywhere behind the striker. I think Kieran McKenna sees him more as a no.10, but I love seeing his turn of pace out wide. It's so hard to defend against.
If he stays at Town, he’ll be one of the best players in the division. Top clubs are reportedly keen, however, especially following his strong performances at Euro U21.
Sammie Szmodics
Don’t forget about Sammie Szmodics. Although he’s had a lengthy spell on the sidelines, he offers something that I don’t think any other Ipswich player can.
He showed his quality in the Premier League and now looks set to do the same in the Championship, where he scored 27 goals in his last full campaign at the level. Having been played on the left last season, will he end up through the middle in 2025/26?
There have been some reports of interest in the 29-year-old, but I think he’ll stay put. He should be starting week in, week out for the Blues next season.
Jack Clarke
It didn’t work out for Jack Clarke in the Premier League. A new system, a new club and a league that swallowed him up at times. There were flashes of brilliance, but not enough. At Championship level, we should see a totally different animal.
The former Sunderland man has shown that he’s a top-end player in the second tier. We got to see it with our own eyes when he played Coventry City in the FA Cup. Now, it’s time for him to prove it over a 46-game season with Town.
There was a slightly odd link with PSV Eindhoven at the end of last season, but like Szmodics, Clarke should be staying put, and that’s exciting. Having him, Jaden Philogene and Nathan Broadhead as options on that flank is mouth-watering.
George Hirst
Two strikers to choose from. George Hirst is the clear option to lead the line next season despite previous links with Leeds United and Burnley.
There are big shoes to fill following Liam Delap’s £30m move to Chelsea, but Hirst will feel confident that he can step up. He delivered in the Premier League, when fit, and is now a senior international for Scotland.
Extra depth will be needed, as Ali Al-Hamadi won’t be able to support Hirst by himself, but many fans clearly feel that George has what it takes to be the starting striker next season. Avoiding injuries will be key.
My full as it stands XI
4-2-3-1: Palmer; Johnson, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Taylor; Hutchinson, Szmodics, J. Clarke; Hirst
