Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna recently revealed that the club was in discussions with players about new contracts. Stuart Watson looks at the state of play...
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
Ipswich signed 14 players on permanent deals over the last three transfer windows. Eleven of them have signed either a four or five year contract.
The four-year deal George Hirst signed last summer runs until 2027.
Aro Muric (25), Ben Johnson (24), Chiedozie Ogbene (27), Sammie Szmodics (29), Jack Clarke (23) and Ali Al-Hamadi (22) are tied down until 2028.
Dara O’Shea (25), Jacob Greaves (24), Omari Hutchinson (20) and Liam Delap (21) penned five-year deals that run until 2029.
It’s a fine balancing act between wanting to protect assets that could really rise in value and not wanting to overcommit to big wages that could prove difficult to shift if things don’t work out.
Kieran McKenna’s track record of improving players over the last two-and-a-half years, no matter their age, has given the club confidence to hand out longer-term deals though.
“What we’ve tried to do is invest the money in a way that strengthens us for now but also, we think, strengthens the club for the future and protects the club for the future," said McKenna, after the summer transfer window shut.
“Look at the players that we’ve spent the more significant fees on – a Liam Delap (21) or a Jacob Greaves (24) or an Omari Hutchinson (20). When you see (the comparative value of) young British players playing in the Premier League playing week-in, week-out and performing how they are, then you know, barring hopefully anything from an injury perspective, that the money has been invested really well. The future of the club is enhanced by investments like that.”
REWARDING PROMOTION HEROS
Three of the key men from Town’s back-to-back promotion winning seasons have been rewarded with new contracts.
Skipper Sam Morsy (33), winger Wes Burns (29) and keeper Christian Walton (28) have all penned new two-year deals since a spot in the Premier League was secured.
“It’s very important we keep a good core of players who have been a really, really important part of the journey over the last couple of years," said McKenna.
“As we grow and develop now as a football club, and as we bring new players in, those players who have been part of the journey are going to help with integration both on and off the pitch.”
After Walton put pen to paper more than a month ago (Sept 17), McKenna revealed: "I think there are conversations ongoing with some others in terms of them receiving and committing to new contracts."
The only new deal that’s been announced since then has been for third-choice keeper Cieran Slicker.
THE BIG PRIORITY
Eight players are currently in the final year of their deals. One name jumps off the page – Leif Davis.
The left-back assist machine won’t be able to walk away for nothing next summer as the Blues will be able to trigger a clause to extend his deal by a further year. Ipswich won’t want one of their biggest assets going into the final 12 months of a contract though.
Scenario one. Town stay up and Davis plays a big part in that. Who knows, he may even break into an England squad that has a dearth of left-backs. Top half sides could circle.
Scenario two. Town go down, but Davis emerges from the campaign with credit. Mid-to-lower end Premier League outfits would certainly make their move.
Tied to a decent contract and with a year of Premier League experience under his belt, the Blues could demand more than £20m for Davis in the current market. Were he to have just a year left, however, then Mark Ashton’s bargaining power would be significantly weakened.
ANY OTHERS?
Following years of injury set-backs issues, Axel Tuanzebe proved his fitness in the second half of last season and penned a new one-year deal. Such was the form in which he started this campaign, you’d imagine Town may have been considering tying down the 26-year-old former Manchester United man to a longer deal.
The freak hand injury he recently suffered when washing up could have put any potential talks on hold though. He’s set to be out of action for ‘a while’ following surgery.
Ipswich boy Luke Woolfenden is another in the final year of his contract with no known extension option. He was a virtual ever-present under McKenna during the promotion seasons, but has since dropped out the team following the arrivals of O’Shea and Greaves. My gut feeling is this one will get done eventually as the manager likes him and this is his home. Mind you, careers are short and the 25-year-old won’t be happy watching from the sidelines.
Regarding Cameron Burgess, Massimo Luongo, George Edmundson (on loan at Middlesbrough), Marcus Harness (on loan at Derby) and Elkan Baggott (on loan at Blackpool), you’d imagine all parties are happy to see how this season plans out before discussing the future. What division Town find themselves in next season will almost certainly determine whether any of that quintet have futures at Portman Road.
“When you go on loan it certainly doesn't mean that it's the end of your time at a football club,” said McKenna.
THE LOAN DEALS
Midfield duo Kalvin Phillips (Man City) and Jens Cajuste (Napoli) are both on season-long loans.
It's been reported that Town paid a €1.5 million loan fee for Swedish international Cajuste and have a €12 million option to buy if relegation is avoided. Whether there's a 'must have started X games' sub-clause is unknown. Th 25-year-old has started just one Premier League game so far and recently was sidelined with a minor knee issue.
It's been reported that there is no option to buy clause in Phillips' loan.
CONTRACTS SUMMARY
* Known 12 month extension option for club
Loan: Phillips, Cajuste
2025: Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis*, Luongo*, Edmundson, Baggott*, Harness*
2026: Walton, H.Clarke*, Townsend, Morsy, Taylor, Burns, Chaplin, Broadhead, Humphreys
2027: Hirst
2028: Muric, Slicker, Johnson, Ogbene, Szmodics, J.Clarke, Al-Hamadi
2029: O'Shea, Greaves, Hutchinson, Delap
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