With their recent promotion to the Premier League, Ipswich Town has initiated their search for new signings to strengthen their squad for top-flight football.
According to TBR Football, two players that Kieran McKenna’s side is reportedly interested in are Sunderland duo Pierre Ekwah and Dan Ballard.
FLW’s Sunderland fan pundit has considered the potential appointment of René Marić as the next head coach for the Black Cats.
Dan Ballard, a Northern Irish center-back, joined Sunderland from Arsenal two years ago, while Frenchman Pierre Ekwah signed for the club from West Ham in January 2023. Both players have seemingly been deemed suitable signings by Kieran McKenna, likely based on their performances against his team this season. However, with Ballard and Ekwah under contract at Sunderland until 2027, Ipswich may need to pay a substantial fee to secure their services.
Sunderland will likely receive a big fee if Dan Ballard and Pierre Ekwah are to leave
Given that Dan Ballard is 24 years old and Pierre Ekwah is just 21, and considering they are both under long-term contracts at the Stadium of Light, it’s reasonable to expect that they won’t come cheap this summer.
With Ipswich Town now having funds available following their promotion to the top-flight, FLW’s Sunderland fan pundit, Jack Austwicke, believes that Sunderland should stand firm and demand a significant fee for both players.
Jack stated to FLW, “I think Ballard’s fee will be quite high, especially considering he recently signed a new deal until 2027. He’s a really solid centre-back, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we demand £20 million for him, which I don’t think is unreasonable given his performances for us over the past two seasons.
“Ekwah has had some struggles this season, but he’s still a talented player with plenty of potential. He’s relatively new to professional football, so there’s room for growth. I’d say a fee between £5-10 million would be fair for him.
“However, I don’t see either of them leaving easily, as we’re in a strong position to keep them with their long contracts. But we’ll have to wait and see what unfolds.”
Long-term contracts give Sunderland some security this summer
Indeed, by securing long-term contracts for both Dan Ballard and Pierre Ekwah, Sunderland has positioned themselves to potentially reap substantial financial rewards this summer if Ipswich Town, or any other interested party, were to sign them.
This foresight and planning from Sunderland’s leadership demonstrate strategic thinking, as it ensures that the club is not pressured to sell Ballard and Ekwah for below their market value this summer. Had the duo been nearing the end of their contracts, Sunderland would have faced the risk of having to offload them at a discounted price.
| Dan Ballard’s 2023/24 Championship season – Fotmob | |
| Appearances | 43 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Minutes played | 3,837 |
| Pass accuracy | 89.7% |
| Long ball accuracy | 50.0% |
| Dribbles success | 68.4% |
| Tackles won | 68.0% |
| Duels won | 65.1% |
| Yellow Cards | 13 |
| Red Cards | 0 |
Sunderland’s recruitment strategy is well-known for its emphasis on acquiring promising young players, nurturing them into first-team regulars, and then potentially selling them for a profit in the future. The success of this approach is evident in the cases of Dan Ballard and Pierre Ekwah, both of whom were signed from the academies of Arsenal and West Ham, respectively. Sunderland stands to make a significant profit on both players if they decide to sell them this summer.
For Ipswich Town to secure the services of Ballard and Ekwah, they will need to make a compelling offer to Sunderland. However, Sunderland’s board can approach negotiations with confidence, knowing that the contract situations of Ballard and Ekwah put them in a position where they are not compelled to sell for a reduced price this summer.
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