Ipswich Town: Eight strikers the Blues could target this summer

George Hirst is the clear first choice at the moment, with Ali Al-Hamadi and Freddie Ladapo set for loan and permanent exits respectively.

Panathinaikos' Fotis Ioannidis has been the main link so far, with rumours suggesting that the Blues have launched bids worth more than £20 million.

He certainly won't be their only target this summer. Alex Jones takes a look at eight forwards that Town could look to sign before the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

Cameron Archer has returned to Aston Villa this summer (Image: PA)

Cameron Archer

Starting off with a familiar name, Cameron Archer came through at Aston Villa’s academy, leaving on a permanent deal last summer after loan spells at Solihull Moors, Preston North and Middlesbrough.

He joined Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee, which was later reported to be in the region of £18 million. In 29 games, he scored four goals and provided one assist as the Blades were relegated, triggering an obligation for Aston Villa to buy him back.

His stock has dropped a bit in the last 12 months and the chances of him working his way into Unai Emery’s plans seem slim. Nonetheless, he’s shown glimpses of real quality, indicating that he would thrive in a team that can create chances on a more consistent basis than Chris Wilder's side did last season.

At 5ft 11ins, he’s different to Hirst and can’t hold up the ball quite as well, but he’s a real poacher who could be available for much cheaper than last summer.

Ben Brereton Diaz spent last season on loan at Sheffield United (Image: PA)

Ben Brereton Diaz

This, to me, seems like an absolute no-brainer for Ipswich. Villarreal signed Ben Brereton Diaz on a free transfer after his contract expired at Blackburn Rovers, where he scored 45 goals in 144 Championship games. He didn’t quite hit the heights that the Spanish club hoped for, joining Sheffield United on loan in January.

Despite only featuring in the second half of the campaign, Brereton Diaz bagged six goals and an assist in 14 Premier League games, finishing as the Blades tied-top scorer with just 1110 minutes on the pitch. Imagine what he could do over the course of a full campaign.

Villarreal are probably in a position where they want to cut their losses, particularly if a strong offer comes in, and Town have already been linked with a move for him. At 25, he’s in the right age range, and he’s a senior international for Chile with seven goals in 33 caps. He’s tall, powerful and a clinical finisher.

Crucially, he can play on the left flank and up top, meaning that he could compete with Nathan Broadhead while also adding depth in the striker department alongside George Hirst and another new addition, allowing Ali Al-Hamadi to go on loan. Versatility is key.

Kelechi Iheanacho is a free agent after leaving Leicester City (Image: PA)

Kelechi Iheanacho

If Town are looking for a cheaper option, Kelechi Iheanacho is available on a free transfer after leaving Leicester City. The 27-year-old came through at Manchester City before joining the Foxes in 2017, scoring 61 goals in 232 appearances over a seven-year spell.

Obviously, the key here is his value. Iheanacho is the only name on this list who’s available for free, but he also comes with significant Premier League experience, having scored 30 goals in the top flight.

He’s won the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup, the Community Shield and the Championship title, with 15 goals in 55 caps for Nigeria’s senior squad. He’s incredibly quick and an instinctive finisher, although there were question marks surrounding his work rate in the second tier last season.

He could certainly bolster the Blues’ forward line while leaving space in the budget for another striker.

Jonas Wind featured for Denmark at Euro 2024 (Image: PA)

Jonas Wind

On the other end of the scale, we’ve got Jonas Wind, who’d possibly be the most ambitious target on this list. The 25-year-old joined Wolfsburg from Copenhagen in 2022, bagging 22 Bundesliga goals in 72 games.

He’s a senior international for Denmark, having scored eight goals in 30 caps, starting in three of their four Euro 2024 games. He was benched for their round-of-16 clash against Germany, which they lost 2-0.

Despite being a powerful 6ft 3ins striker who can hold up the ball, Wind is capable of playing just off the out-and-out no.9 or on either flank. Premier League clubs have already been linked, including Wolves, Fulham and Nottingham Forest.

This would be a real statement of intent from Ipswich, signing Wolfsburg’s top scorer who registered 11 goals and five assists in a strong league last season. As an Arsenal fan, he’d certainly relish the chance to face them on Boxing Day.

Odsonne Edouard will reportedly be allowed to leave Crystal Palace this summer (Image: PA)

Odsonne Edouard

Coming back to England, Odsonne Edouard joined Crystal Palace with high expectations back in 2021, having scored 89 goals in 196 appearances for Celtic across a five-year stint in Glasgow. It hasn’t really worked out in South London.

The Frenchman now has a wealth of Premier League experience to his name, having played 93 top-flight games for the Eagles, scoring 18 goals. It isn’t a bad return, but with the in-form Jean-Philippe Mateta now ahead of him in the pecking order, a move seems inevitable ahead of his contract expiring next summer.

TEAMTalk have already reported that Crystal Palace have put Edouard up for sale, and if he wants to stay in England, a move to Ipswich could be a good fit. He’s still only 26 and stands at 6ft 2ins. He’s powerful and dangerous in the box, offering a strong alternative to Hirst.

If Town could strike a cheap deal, this would be a great move. He's been linked with a return to Celtic, although he described the Premier League as his 'end goal' when he was playing up in Scotland before.

Kevin Denkey

Of all the strikers outside of Europe’s top five leagues, Kevin Denkey has arguably caught the eye the most. The 23-year-old has had the odd impressive season in his short career to date, but he hit red-hot form in 2023/24, notching 27 goals in 36 league games for Cercle Brugge.

Unsurprisingly, there’s quite a bit of interest in him, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Aston Villa all reportedly keen. Whether that materialises into an actual offer is another thing, potentially opening the door for a club like Ipswich.

Denkey isn’t a tall striker who can hold up the ball, but he’s strong, fast and ruthless in front of goal – a perfect combination for a Premier League forward. At 23, there’s plenty of room for development as well.

This one will hinge on the competition. Cercle Brugge will be keen to start a bidding war, and given that they can offer Europa League football, they’ll be in a good position to keep him.

Elijah Adebayo scored 10 goals in his first Premier League season (Image: PA)

Elijah Adebayo

Elijah Adebayo – whose full name is Elijah Anuoluwapo Oluwaferanmi Oluwatomi Oluwalana Ayomikulehin Adebayo – has managed to climb the English football pyramid in next to no time.

Having come through Fulham’s academy, he was playing on loan at Bognor Regis Town as recently as 2017. He joined Walsall on a permanent deal two years later, impressing so much that he earned a move to Luton Town in 2021.

He fired the Hatters to promotion from the Championship in 2022/23, bagging 10 goals in 26 Premier League games last season as they suffered an immediate relegation.

The 26-year-old is tall – 6ft 4ins, to be exact – and the fact that he started his career as a central defender should tell you all you need to know about how he is as a player. He’s added that clinical touch to his game, making him an in-demand striker this summer. It’s fair to say that he wouldn’t come cheap, with Luton in no need to sell.

Andrea Pinamonti

Having already picked out an Italian striker as a potential transfer target a few weeks ago, I couldn’t resist looking at Serie A once again. Andrea Pinamonti’s name stood out.

A product of Inter Milan’s academy, he never really managed to establish himself at San Siro, although he impressed on loan at Empoli in 2021/22. He sealed a permanent switch to Sassuolo last summer, scoring 11 goals in 38 games as they were relegated to Serie B.

He’s played at every international level from under-15’s upwards, having made his senior debut for Italy in November 2022 – his only cap to date. If he wants to stand a chance of featuring for the Azzuri again, he’ll have to move this summer, which is what he’s apparently keen to do.

Reportedly available for a cut-price fee, Pinamonti has been linked with Inter, AC Milan and Roma, but he may fancy his chances outside of Italy. He’s surprisingly fast for a 6ft 2ins striker who loves a header and is clinical from the penalty spot.