Ipswich Town are reportedly interested in signing Odsonne Édouard if their move for Chelsea striker Armando Broja falls through.

Broja was set to sign for the Blues on loan at the end of last week, but it’s understood that an issue with his medical has seen the deal halted. Manager Kieran McKenna revealed this morning that negotiations are ongoing, but he’s unsure whether the Albanian international will make the switch to Portman Road.

As a result, Town are looking at alternatives to fill the void up front. At the moment, Liam Delap, Ali Al-Hamadi and Freddie Ladapo are the three fit options to lead the line while George Hirst recovers from a knee injury.

Al-Hamadi is currently set to stay at Ipswich, although a loan move hasn’t been ruled out, while Freddie Ladapo is expected to leave after missing out on a place in the matchday squad for games against Liverpool and Manchester City.

Alan Nixon of The Sun has claimed that they could turn to Crystal Palace striker Édouard, who is also a target for Serie A outfit Atalanta. The Frenchman will seemingly be allowed to leave Selhurst Park this summer, with the Eagles closing in on the signing of Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah.

A deal would only be possible if Armando Broja's move to Portman Road falls throughA deal would only be possible if Armando Broja's move to Portman Road falls through (Image: PA)

The report claims that a move for Édouard would be an initial loan, which Palace may agree to if there’s an option or obligation to purchase him at the end of the campaign for around £20 million. However, as things stand, his contract is set to expire at the end of this season with no mention of an extension clause.

A product of Paris Saint-Germain’s academy, the 26-year-old made the switch to South London from Celtic after a stunning stint in Glasgow, scoring 89 goals in 196 games in all competitions.

His time and Palace has been hit-and-miss, having fallen behind in-form Jean-Philippe Mateta in the pecking order last season. He scored seven goals from 17 starts and 13 cameo appearances in 2023/24, having featured in both of their games so far this season, starting in Saturday’s defeat to West Ham.

Édouard has also been linked with a return to Celtic this summer, although Nixon has claimed that they are yet to make any contact with the player or his club.

Alex’s verdict

Édouard was one of the names I picked out earlier in the summer as a suitable target for Ipswich. At the time, I wrote: ‘He’s still only 26 and stands at 6ft 2ins. He’s powerful and dangerous in the box, offering a strong alternative to Hirst.’

That ticks a lot of boxes for a McKenna striker and we understand that he’s someone that’s been on Town’s list for a little while. Whether it’ll materialise into anything more remains to be seen, and seemingly hinges on Broja’s situation.

His Premier League experience is certainly appealing. It wouldn’t take long for him to get up to speed and he’d probably complete the puzzle in terms of their summer recruitment, with a move for Luton Town winger Chiedozie Ogbene reportedly progressing.

Nketiah's move to Selhurst Park should make him available this summer, but would they accept a loan move or hold out for a transfer fee? His contract situation could complicate that unless there's an extension clause that's yet to be publicised.