Ipswich Town have begun building their Premier League squad ahead of their return to the top flight.
The Tractor Boys finished second in the Championship behind Leicester City last season, marking their second consecutive promotion from League One up to the Premier League.
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It is the first time the Suffolk team has played in the Premier League since 2002, when Matt Holland and Hermann Hreidarsson were in charge.
Now Kieran McKenna is faced with the task of getting the squad he brought up from the third division fit for the first division – and he has already made some reinforcements.
Omari Hutchinson was on loan from Chelsea last season, but the Tractor Boys have since broken their transfer record to bring him back to Portman Road for £22.5 million.
The winger was a key part of McKenna’s team that stormed to promotion last season and it is likely that many of the players who helped them to promotion will retain their places.
However, Ipswich will also include some new faces in their eleven.
Ipswich’s first-choice goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky started in goal, left the club this summer after failing to agree a new contract and has been out of contract since.
Experienced goalkeeper David Martin has joined as a player-coach, but it is more likely that Christian Walton, the club’s only other experienced goalkeeper at present, will be between the sticks.
Walton’s last consistent minutes came in League One, however, and Ipswich have been linked with two goalkeepers this transfer window, including Fenerbahce’s Dominik Livakovic.
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Brighton’s Carl Rushworth, who spent last season on loan at Swansea, has also been mentioned. The 23-year-old Seagulls player is unlikely to get any Premier League playing time at Brighton, so a move to Ipswich would be the most logical option.
Central defenders Cameron Burgess and Luke Woolfenden were important pillars in defence last season.
However, Ipswich have been linked with other centre-backs, with the Tractor Boys reportedly keeping an eye on Liverpool’s Nat Phillips.
The Pitch Prospect has learned that Ipswich are also interested in left-back and Hull star Jacob Greaves.
Leif Davis was a real asset for Ipswich as a left-back, scoring an incredible 21 assists and two goals last season.
On the other side of the defence is right-back Ben Johnson, who joined on a free transfer from West Ham this season.
Massimo Luongo and Sam Morsy are expected to remain in the lineup, with Conor Chaplin – who scored 13 league goals last season – completing the midfield trio.
In attack, Hutchinson is likely to be joined by two new faces in Ipswich’s front three.
The former Chelsea player will play on the right wing, while Hull’s Jaden Philogene – who scored the ‘Goal of the Century’ at Rotherham earlier this year – will start on the left.
Everton will be looking to capitalise on this transfer, but Ipswich are confident the move will go ahead, so keep your eyes peeled.
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Up front is Delap – no, not him.
Rory Delap’s son, 21-year-old Liam, has been under contract with Manchester City since 2020.
He spent last season at Hull, so he would fit in well with Philogene.
The England youth international scored 12 goals in 68 league games during his loan spell with the Tigers, Preston and Stoke.
And a permanent contract worth £20 million could give Ipswich’s attack a new boost ahead of a big season.
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