Ipswich are ready to quadruple their record transfer fee and snap up Chelsea starlet Omari Hutchinson for £20 million, The Pitch Prospect has learned.
The 20-year-old was sent to Portman Road on loan last summer, where he played a key role in the Tractor Boys’ promotion to the Premier League.
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Hutchinson, who swapped Arsenal’s academy for Chelsea’s in 2022, contributed ten goals and six assists in 44 Championship games.
And Ipswich are now desperately trying to turn the winger’s temporary stay into a permanent move as the Suffolk side are in negotiations with the Blues.
It is believed that Ipswich are willing to pay £20 million for the Jamaican international.
While the potential deal will not include a buy-back clause, Chelsea would benefit from a future sell-on clause.
If Ipswich sign Hutchinson for £20 million, it would break the current transfer record, which has stood for 23 years.
Their current record is £4.75 million, after they poached Matteo Sereni from Sampdoria in 2001.
Ipswich fans have been vocal in their desire for the club to sign Hutchinson after securing a lucrative investment from an American company in March.
Since moving to Stamford Bridge two years ago, Hutchinson has only made two appearances for Chelsea in all competitions.
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But during his loan spell at Ipswich he showed he was more than ready for the first team, helping the club gain promotion to the top flight for the first time since 2002.
Speaking to Chelsea’s media team recently, Hutchinson described his loan move to Ipswich as “perfect” and said: “It’s been a great season and a great year.”
“From the first minute I walked into the building, all the guys were fully into it. They gave me a lot of confidence in training that I would take into my games.
“We showed relentlessness and ruthlessness, we stayed calm and made it to the Premier League.
“The culture was about humility and a willingness to work for the team and the badge because it’s a community club.
“All the fans love the club and you have to represent the crest really well and show humility.
“I would probably say it was the perfect loan – it really couldn’t have been much better, could it? The promotion was the ideal.”
“My intention was to get into the team and get as many minutes and as much experience as possible from my teammates and the coach – and that’s what ended up happening.”
“I just wanted to help the team as best as I could.”