Ipswich Town: Nine players who could depart this summer
Already this summer, 11 players have departed Ipswich Town’s first-team squad. Stuart Watson takes a look at who else might join them.
DEPARTED SO FAR
Dominic Ball, Kayden Jackson, Panutche Camara and Nick Hayes were all released at the end of their contracts. Jackson has signed for newly-promoted Championship side Derby County, while keeper Hayes has joined National League club Barnet.
Sone Aluko retired and has taken up a role in Kieran McKenna’s coaching staff judging by early pre-season pictures, while Janoi Donacien is training with the club in an attempt to get fit for someone else after his contract expired.
Omari Hutchinson, Kieffer Moore, Jeremy Sarmiento, Lewis Travis and Brandon Williams all saw their loans expire. Hutchinson has returned in a club-record £18m deal from Chelsea, while Williams is now a free agent after being released by Manchester United.
Gassan Ahadme yesterday joined League One side Charlton Athletic in a £1m deal.
CIERAN SLICKER
The 21-year-old joined the Blues from Manchester City last summer for a nominal fee and acted as third choice keeper behind Vaclav Hladky and Christian Walton, making two appearances in the League Cup.
While recently away on Scotland U21 duty, he said: “Now definitely is the time for me to go and play. I want to show people I can do it week-in and week-out. We’ve had a lot of discussions with the manager (Kieran McKenna) and goalkeeping coach (Rene Gilmartin) and everyone is on the same page with it. Now we are looking for options to see what is the best platform to help me kick on. That’s the plan.”
Scottish trio Kilmarnock, Ross County and Partick Thistle are all reportedly interested in what you would imagine would be a loan.
Ipswich are looking to bring in veteran keeper David Martin as a player-coach to fill this void. The 38-year-old spent most of his career at MK Dons and most recently was at Southend.
CORRIE NDABA
Left-footed, ball-playing centre-backs are a rare breed, but Ndaba has never quite been able to force his way into the first team fold at Ipswich Town.
Since graduating from the Playford Road academy, the 24-year-old Dubliner has had loan spells at Hemel Hempstead, Chelmsford, Ayr, Salford, Burton, Fleetwood and, most recently, Kilmarnock. The latter, having just finished fourth in the SPL to put themselves in Europa League qualifying, are now keen to sign him permanently.
“He’s probably got to get himself sorted out at Ipswich but we feel there’s a deal to be done,” said Killie boss Derek McInnes earlier this week.
