As their official Premier League return approaches, Ipswich Town have yet to conclude their summer business, with reports linking the Tractor Boys to a top six midfielder set to depart his current club.
Ipswich transfer news
Portman Road has already welcomed up to six new players, the most notable of which being star player Omari Hutchinson’s permanent transfer from Chelsea.
Following the winger, high-potential talents such as Jacob Greaves and Liam Delap have been added, as well as top-flight experience in the form of Arijanet Muric and Ben Johnson, with full back Conor Townsend rounding out the roster thus far.
Our sixth summer signing. ✍️
Welcome to Town, Conor Townsend!
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) August 1, 2024
For the first time since the move, Townsend told Ipswich’s official website: “I’m happy to be here. To play in the Premier League again is a significant challenge for me, and this type of opportunity does not come along very frequently, so I jumped at the chance.
“The relocation came together quickly, and I’m eager to get started. I’ve had wonderful chats with the Manager, and everyone speaks well of him, so I’m excited to get started and work under him. I played against Ipswich twice last season, and both were extremely difficult games. What the club accomplished last season was remarkable, and I’m delighted to be a part of it today.”
The former West Bromwich Albion player may not be the club’s only new arrival. According to Matt Law of The Telegraph, Ipswich are now looking to sign Oliver Skipp, who is scheduled to depart Tottenham Hotspur this summer and has sparked interest from all three recently promoted clubs.
Skipp, a player with plenty of Premier League experience despite being only 23 years old, would be a coup for the Tractor Boys before deadline day at the end of the month, however he may have to give up his present £40k-a-week (nearly £2 million per year) pay.
“Amazing” Skipp would be an intelligent signing
Skipp is unlikely to make headlines because his role is not that of a star arrival. But what he will do is quietly work in front of Kieran McKenna’s backline, creating a framework for players like Hutchinson to prosper. Furthermore, outside of his function, the midfielder would provide vital knowledge from the highest levels of English and European football, having appeared in 77 Premier League games and 10 European competitions.
The 23-year-old has received a lot of acclaim throughout his time at Tottenham, including from previous interim manager Cristian Stellini, who told BBC Sport after Skipp scored a spectacular goal in a 2-0 win over Chelsea in 2023. “A brilliant moment [for Oliver Skipp], and one that we expected after he had been away from the game for a year. Last season, I had physical concerns, and this year, I’m making tactical judgments.
“He is prepared since he has exercised extensively and pushed himself. He is a terrific person and a fantastic player. A player like Skippy must recognize that if he exercises extensively, he will have opportunities to demonstrate his value.”
