After being relegated from the Premier League the previous season, Ipswich Town is getting ready to return to the Championship.
With the departure of attacker Liam Delap, defenders Axel Tuanzebe and Cameron Burgess, and captain Sam Morsy nearing a move to Kuwait SC, the Tractor Boys have lost three important players this summer. There may be more high-profile departures before the transfer season closes.
But with goalie David Button, defender Cedric Kipre, and midfielder Azor Matusiwa all joining in recent weeks, it looks like transfer activity is starting to pick up steam at Portman Road following a slow start to the summer in terms of arrivals.
The arrival of Cedric Kipre at Ipswich Town may be detrimental to Luke Woolfenden.
The majority of this summer’s headlines have focused on Matusiwa’s £9 million move to Ipswich, and although fans should naturally be thrilled about their new high-profile acquisition, Kipre’s loan signing also appears to be a successful venture.
After a mixed season at Reims, where he helped the team go to the Coupe de France final before losing to Paris Saint-Germain 3-0, Kipre joins the Tractor Boys. However, he was also a member of the team that was relegated from Ligue 1.
Despite his disappointing spell in France, Kipre has a wealth of Championship experience from his time at Wigan Athletic, Cardiff City, and most importantly, West Bromwich Albion, where he was a star in the 2023–24 season and helped the Midlands team finish in fifth place.
Under former head coach Carlos Corberan, the Baggies were renowned for their defensive organisation and consistency during Kipre’s time there. The 28-year-old could provide some stability to an Ipswich defence that let up a startling 82 goals in the Premier League the previous season.
The Tractor Boys have plenty of depth at centre-back even after losing Tuanzebe and Burgess this summer. Last month, they were able to sign Dara O’Shea to a new five-year contract despite reports of interest from Burnley, Leeds United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers. They also have Luke Woolfenden and Jacob Greaves on their books.
Greaves, whose achievements in the division for Hull City persuaded the club to pay an initial cost of £15 million for him last summer, may be happy about Ipswich’s return to the Championship, but Wolfenden is one player who might not be needed next season.
Despite recent contract announcement, Luke Woolfenden’s future at Ipswich Town is questionable.
Woolfenden has played 214 games for Ipswich after graduating from the club’s youth. He was a key player on the squad that earned back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.
But last season, Woolfenden‘s playing time in the top division became more and more limited. He only made 18 appearances, 15 of which came from the start.
In light of this, Woolfenden’s signing a new two-and-a-half-year contract at the end of January was somewhat unexpected. Although it may indicate that manager Kieran McKenna views the 26-year-old as a crucial component of his plans for the Championship next season, it is unlikely that he will be a consistent starter.
O’Shea and Greaves appear to be the Tractor Boys‘ first-choice centre-back duo for the upcoming season given their prior success in the second division. However, even with Woolfenden at his disposal, McKenna chose to bring in Kipre, another seasoned defender, which will worry the academy graduate.
Woolfenden was linked to a move to Sheffield United in January before he signed his new contract at Ipswich. However, since the Blades are now managed by Ruben Selles after Chris Wilder left, it is unlikely that they will renew their interest. Additionally, they have added Tyler Bindon of Nottingham Forest as a centre-back this summer.
Woolfenden would have plenty of suitors if he were available, and his prior Championship promotion experience would make him a great signing for many teams in the league, even though a transfer to Bramall Lane may not be in the cards.
Woolfenden will be hesitant to leave Portman Road after spending his entire career with the Tractor Boys, with the exception of loan stints at Bromley and Swindon Town. However, given that Kipre’s arrival might push him further down the hierarchy, he might have to leave this summer in pursuit of consistent playing time.
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