Ipswich Town have plenty of centre-midfielders, but will Kieran McKenna want to add something different to the mix? Stuart Watson picks out eight players who could fit the bill.
JACK TAYLOR
Former Chelsea youth teamer rebuilt his career lower down the pyramid at Barnet.
Capable of playing in a deep-lying or advanced midfield role, it looks like the 24-year-old is destined for a Championship move after Peterborough’s dramatic League One play-off semi-final defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
MORE: Stuart Watson's hopes for the 2023 summer transfer window
Ipswich showed interest in him last summer and, according to Posh director of football Barry Fry, then had three bids rebuffed in January.
Kieran McKenna had a little word with Taylor on the pitch after his side’s 3-0 win at London Road in April. Will he try again?
JASON KNIGHT
Derby County look powerless to stop their young star moving on now he moves into the final year of his contract.
Knight has played 150 times for the Rams and 18 times for the Republic of Ireland by the age of 21. He wore the captain’s armband in the Championship under the management of Wayne Rooney, with the England legend saying the midfielder ‘almost reminds me of myself when I was younger in terms of no fear’.
MORE: Why Town can keep hold of McKenna if Celtic do come calling
Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny recently said: “A lot of clubs want to buy Jason, which will be good for him, to get back to playing at a level higher than League One.”
Primarily a midfielder, he has played in a variety of roles including right-back, left-wing and as a No.10.
BEN WILES
All-action midfielder has racked up 170 appearances for his hometown club of Rotherham by the age of 24, more than half of them coming in the Championship.
Ipswich fans might remember his outstanding displays at Portman Road in 2019 and 2021.
The Millers knocked back interest from Burnley for Wiles last summer, something he admits was ‘hard to swallow’.
South Yorkshire club recently took up their 12-month extension option in his contract, but may reluctantly have to sell if a good offer comes in and the player expresses a desire to move on.
KILLIAN PHILLIPS
Irish youngster earnt a move from Drogheda to Crystal Palace in January 2022. Spent the second half of the season just gone on loan at Shrewsbury where he was named the club’s Young Player of the Season.
Under-21 international recently told the Irish Independent: “I want to try and become a Palace player. I’m going to try my best to impress in pre-season. Hopefully by the time the season rolls around, if I’ve impressed and I’ll be in the team.”
Former Shrewsbury boss Steve Cotterill said: “He is a big, strong boy and a really, really good lad. He’s 6ft 3in, can nick a goal, he’s very good in both boxes and a really good athlete as well.”
Loan (potentially with an option to buy) would be Town’s best route to this 21-year-old talent.
LUCA CONNELL
Liverpool-born midfielder moved from Bolton to Celtic at the age of 18 for a fee of around £350k. He failed to make the breakthrough at the Scottish giants, signed a three-year deal at Barnsley last summer and has just enjoyed a superb season in League One.
The Republic of Ireland U21 international (an unintentional theme in this list) produced two goals and nine assists from a deep-lying role for the Tykes and was subsequently named their Young Player of the Year.
Barnsley boss Michael Duff enthused: "He's an unbelievable kid. You forget he's 21 years-old.
"His ability and his performances are there but the way he drives it and carries himself, the way he puts demands on other people, he'll be a captain somewhere along the line.”
CAMERON BRANNAGAN
Is this the summer that the Oxford United man finally makes a long-talked-about step up to the Championship?
The 27-year-old was close to joining Blackpool for a seven-figure fee last year, but ended up signing a new three-year deal at the Kassam Stadium.
He’s scored 41 goals in five-and-a-half seasons for the U’s, including a winner against Ipswich in ‘the fog game’ back in January.
With Oxford fighting relegation in the season just gone, Brannagan said: “I wouldn’t be playing the game if I didn’t want to get to the next level - everybody wants to get to the next level. It’s frustrating this season with how things have gone.”
ALEX MOWATT
The 28-year-old – previously of Leeds and Barnsley – is now in the final year of his West Brom contract, having spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough.
He was initially a bit-part player at the Riverside, due to the outstanding form of Hayden Hackney and Jonny Howson, but injuries opened the door for him to be a key man as Michael Carrick’s side finished fourth before losing to Coventry in the play-off semi-finals.
“You wouldn't be able to come on and do what Alex did the other night if you're not keeping yourself at a high level,” enthused Carrick, after Mowatt stepped off the bench and impressed in a 5-1 Friday night home win against Norwich back in April. "In terms of his character and attitude and professionalism, I can't fault Alex one bit."
Baggies boss Carlos Corberan says he will evaluate Mowatt’s future as his side look to improve upon a ninth-place finish.
CHARLIE PATINO
Looked to be an Arsenal star in the making after scoring in a Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Sunderland at the age of 17. Now 19, it’s being reported that the Gunners will sell the talented teenager this summer but insist on a buy-back clause.
Patino won’t be short of Championship suitors after an impressive season on loan at Blackpool in which he provided three goals and four assists for a side that finished second-bottom.
Tangerines team-mate Jerry Yates (who has been linked to Town), said: “He’s sensational. The way he has taken to the Championship is unbelievable. He’ll be a top, top player.”
A move to this part of the country could appeal to someone who grew up in Hertfordshire.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here