Ipswich Town are targeting an instant return to the Premier League in the 2025/26 Championship, and these five players would go a long way to helping Kieran McKenna’s side.
Ipswich Town are preparing for life back in the second tier next season after they suffered relegation to the Championship last term, and vultures have been circling over Portman Road in the wake of top flight demotion.
Head coach Kieran McKenna’s future is uncertain amid his links with the Brentford job. However, Keith Andrews is in contention to replace Thomas Frank at Brentford, which would quell fears of McKenna’s departure for the Tractor Boys faithful.
The Tractor Boys have already lost star man Liam Delap, after Ipswich pulled off a masterstroke in the £30m sale, and now the club can use those replenished coffers to mount a promotion charge.
EFL Analysis has outlined five signings the Tractor Boys could target in the summer transfer window.
Five players Ipswich Town should sign this summer
Maksym Talovierov
Plymouth Argyle suffered relegation to League One last season, and as such, Ipswich should capitalise to pursue stalwart centre-back Maksym Talovierov.
The towering defender was one of the shining lights in Plymouth’s doomed season, after his mid-season switch from LASK, and was dubbed as a potential Premier League player by then-Argyle boss Miron Muslic.
After Talovierov scored a deft header in the FA Cup defeat at Manchester City, Muslic told the BBC: “He played an excellent game defensively and also a beautiful header.
“It is a Premier League goal and I think he has the potential for this.”
Millwall have been told to replace Japhet Tanganga with Talovierov if the former departs this summer amid Premier League interest due to the defensive qualities that the Argyle colossus possesses.
With central defensive loanee Ben Godfrey returning to Atalanta, the Tractor Boys require quality reinforcements in the heart of defence, which the Ukrainian would be.
Callum Doyle
Another central defender that would be a sensible option for Ipswich to explore is Callum Doyle, who spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Norwich from Man City.
Versatile defender Doyle notched seven assists in 40 Championship appearances for the Canaries last term, which was his fourth successful loan spell away from the Etihad, and is now searching for a permanent move.
Former Black Cats loanee Doyle has been recommended for Regis Le Bris’ next Sunderland signing, given his qualities defensively and in possession.
However, with Ipswich in need of centre-backs and gametime more likely for Doyle at Ipswich than Sunderland next season, his move would be a sensible acquisition that would marry up with the possession-oriented style McKenna wants to play.
Jack Rudoni
Snatching one of the best talents of Ipswich’s top-six rivals would be an ambitious move, but Coventry City ace Jack Rudoni represents a talent that the Tractor Boys are in desperate need of.
EFL Analysis revealed this month that Coventry “will sell” Rudoni this summer, as Premier League clubs show interest in the attacking midfielder, but the Tractor Boys must utilise some of the Delap funds to make a move for the Englishman.
Rudoni scored nine goals and assisted 12 in 45 second tier outings last season as Frank Lampard’s side fell to defeat in the play-off semi-finals against Sunderland.
His acquisition would be a marked improvement on the poor return from Conor Chaplin and replace the void in the number ten role left by loanee Julio Enciso as he returns to Brighton.
Charlie Kelman
Moving into the forward areas, QPR starlet Charlie Kelman would be a brilliant potential option for Ipswich this summer, on the back of his 23-goal loan spell at Leyton Orient in League One last season.
Kelman has been touted as a player Norwich City must sign amid Josh Sargent’s Leeds links, and his stellar campaign in front of goal for the O’s last term highlights the potential he has.
USA international Kelman scored 23 goals and managed five assists in 49 third tier outings for Orient, who were beaten in the play-off final by Charlton Athletic, and he could potentially be the Delap successor.
Head coach McKenna was pivotal in Delap’s development to becoming one of English football’s best young strikers, and the Ipswich boss could do the same with the lofty potential of Kelman.
Emmanuel Latte Lath
Kelman’s inexperience in the Championship could put Ipswich off hanging their hat on him next season, but one striker they could rely on for second tier strikes is former Middlesbrough ace Emmanuel Latte Lath.
We revealed earlier this window that Latte Lath is considering a return to England, just months after Boro netted a £22.5m figure for him in the winter window.
Ipswich made a move for the Ivorian forward last summer which never materialised, and since their relegation back down to the Championship, the club have reignited their interest in Latte Lath.
He scored 27 goals and notched three assists in his 59 second tier outings for Boro in his two seasons at the Riverside, and would be a proven goalscorer in the Championship, who would certainly replace the attacking threat of departed Delap.
