Ipswich Town have joined West Ham in the pursuit of Wigan Athletic’s defender

admin | December 31, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Ipswich Town have hit a snag coming into 2024, maybe at the worst possible time, with Southampton hot on their tail in the Championship promotion battle.

The Tractor Boys had not won in four matches heading into the start of 2024, and during that time they have faced two of their direct rivals for the top two, Leeds United and Leicester City, picking up only one point and allowing five goals.

And Kieran McKenna was set to be hit hard in January with a number of players potentially heading to the African Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup, but with Massimo Luongo retiring from international duty and Sam Morsy opting not to play for Egypt, only Cameron Burgess is set to travel with Australia.

Ipswich’s priority in the January transfer window remains recruiting a new striker, even before George Hirst’s hamstring injury, which will likely keep the 24-year-old out for a while, with Birmingham City loanee Jay Stansfield a potential alternative.

Town are now seeking for a centre-back, and they are looking to League One for a possible future star to bolster their backline.

Ipswich join West Ham in race for Wigan defender Hughes

According to Alan Nixon’s Patreon report, Ipswich are currently in the hunt for outstanding Wigan Athletic centre-half Charlie Hughes.

The 20-year-old, who was born and raised in Wigan and joined the club in 2017 after spells at Manchester City and Liverpool, has been on the rise since breaking into the Latics first-team in the 2022-23 season, making his league debut on Boxing Day in 2022.

Hughes appeared 20 times in the Championship last season before Wigan were relegated to League One, and he’s already made 22 appearances in League One under Shaun Maloney, establishing himself as a major member of the DW Stadium backline.

According to Nixon, West Ham have also been monitoring Hughes this season, but Ipswich will be hoping to get a jump on England under-20 international Hughes, who is under contract at Wigan until the summer of 2028, meaning a significant bid will be required for the Greater Manchester club to cash in.

Hughes arrival could pave way for Edmundson exit following Portsmouth interest

Ipswich will almost certainly have to pay a substantial seven-figure price to recruit Hughes from Wigan, although his presence could allow George Edmundson to depart the club on a temporary basis.

Portsmouth have been connected with Edmundson, who has been out of favour at Portman Road this season after an injury-plagued campaign in 2022-23, with a defender very much on the League One table-toppers’ radar following Regan Poole’s season-ending injury.

With Burgess departing for the Asian Cup, Ipswich would require cover as McKenna would be left with only Luke Woolfenden and Axel Tuanzebe at centre-back, with the latter’s fitness already being monitored following his arrival earlier in the season – Harry Clarke and Janoi Donacien could also potentially play in the middle of the defence.

If Ipswich pay Hughes, they will have a long-term solution at the back as well as an extra alternative for the month of January, but it will drive Edmundson down the pecking order and perhaps out the door to Fratton Park.