Kieran McKenna and Leif Davis have been crucial for Ipswich – and a potential double swoop from West Ham could badly affect the Tractor Boys.
Right now, Ipswich Town is playing fantastically.
For the Tractor Boys, who are vying for back-to-back promotions, this is a season to celebrate whether they secure a promotion at the end of the campaign or not.
Although they might not have as strong of a roster as teams like Leicester City or Leeds United, Ipswich’s team has proven to be more than the sum of its parts, and they have a number of players who can change games.
Both Nathan Broadhead and Conor Chaplin have performed admirably, which is especially encouraging given that both players have long-term contracts at Portman Road.
Before an injury kept him from playing, George Hirst also put in strong performances at times; if they are unsuccessful in their promotion attempt, they undoubtedly have a team that is capable of competing next season.
But, unless they are productive during the next summer window, they cannot expect to be in the promotion mix again next season or to survive.
Ipswich Town could lose a few valuable players this summer.
This term, a few of their loanees have had a very positive influence.
Omari Hutchinson, an attacker owned by Chelsea, was expected to contribute significantly, but it was unclear how much game time he would receive at first.
But in the last third, he has truly changed the game, and their two January loan additions have also contributed favourably in the second half of the season.
Jeremy Sarmiento has demonstrated a great deal of promise; earlier this month, he even scored a potentially significant victory against Southampton.
Additionally, Vaclav Hladky’s contract, along with a few others, expires at the end of the campaign among those who are on permanent deals at Ipswich.
Ipswich, however, has the option to extend some of these contracts for an additional year. For example, the club has one-year extension options with players like Cameron Burgess and Axel Tuanzebe.
West Ham could use Leif Davis and Kieran McKenna to deal a double blow to Ipswich Town.
Leif Davis, the left back, and manager Kieran McKenna could undoubtedly be considered the club’s two most valuable players.
During his first full season in Suffolk, McKenna was tasked with moulding a new team and leading them back to the Championship.
It would be extremely unfortunate for the Tractor Boys if they lost him at this time, as he has proven to be one of the best managers outside of the Premier League.
With an incredible record of going undefeated in 37 of his 43 league games this season, it comes as no surprise that elite team West Ham United has reportedly expressed interest in him.
Since the Irons have now been eliminated from the Europa League, there has been conjecture regarding David Moyes’ future for some time, which may increase the likelihood that the Scotsman will leave the London Stadium this summer.
Davis might follow McKenna to the Irons if he departs, as Give Me Sport has reported that the elite team is interested in the former Leeds United player.
| Leif Davis’ 2023/24 campaign at Ipswich Town | |
|---|---|
| (As of April 22nd, 2024) [All competitions] | |
| Appearances | 41 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 20 |
As evidenced above, the 24-year-old has been a key player for his team this season and has contributed countless points to their victory.
The Tractor Boys’ chances of pushing for promotion in the future may be hampered if McKenna and the left-back depart for the London Stadium this summer. His late winner against Bristol City back in March highlights how important he has been.
Although Ipswich’s owners have been a major factor in the team’s success recently, losing Davis and McKenna could be a game-changing blow. The second tier may only get stronger in the years to come.
Although his defensive contributions have occasionally been called into question, Davis is still only 24 years old and has plenty of time to develop given the way Ipswich plays. Davis will undoubtedly be exposed from time to time.
Some Ipswich supporters find it inconceivable to lose him because he has been a vital component of the Tractor Boys’ machine this season, but since his contract is up in a few years and promotion is not assured, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him leave in the summer.
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