It’s transfer season and plenty of former Blues are on the move. ANDY WARREN looks at some former Ipswich players set for pastures new this summer.
Matt Clarke
The Blues will have a close eye on the central defender's situation at Portsmouth, given they stand to receive a substantial windfall should he complete his much-discussed move to Brighton.
The 22-year-old was used as a bargaining chip in Ipswich's move for Adam Webster in 2016, with Mick McCarthy sending the homegrown youngster and £750,000 to Fratton Park to secure Webster's services.
Ipswich would be due 20% of any future sale meaning, should he move for the £5million being reported, the Suffolk club could net in the region of £1million.
Tyrone Mings
Another former Ipswich defender potentially on the move this summer is Tyrone Mings.
The defender's time with Bournemouth has been severely disrupted by injury since his £8million move from Portman Road in 2015, but he impressed during the closing weeks of last season as he helped loan club Aston Villa win promotion to the Premier League.
A £15million permanent move to Villa Park has been mooted, with the Blues understood to be set to receive a percentage of any profit made by Bournemouth. The exact level of that sell-on clause is not known, though.
Ryan Fraser
The deal that took Mings to Bournemouth in 2015 also saw Ryan Fraser make a season-long loan move to Portman Road.
That one, impressive, year in Suffolk proved something of a spark for the Scottish winger, who has gone from strength to strength since returning to the south coast. So much so that Arsenal are said to be interesting in signing him this summer.
Reports over the weekend suggested Fraser was frustrated at an apparent £30million price tag put on his by the Cherries, which he fears may price clubs out of making a move.
Jonny Williams
The Welshman signed for Charlton on a permanent deal in January but, despite helping the Addicks win promotion to the Championship through the play-offs is set for pastures new.
The free agent, who has had four separate loan spells with Ipswich comprising 27 games, is said to be wanted by Swansea City.
Macauley Bonne
The former Chantry pupil was let go by his hometown club as a teenager but hasn't let that stop him.
His move to Leyton Orient from Colchester in 2017 clearly lit a fire under the striker, who scored 23 goals last season to fire the O's back into the Football League.
Bonne will be in the Championship, though, having signed a three-year deal with Charlton Athletic yesterday.
Marcus Stewart
A change of pace with this one, with former Ipswich striker-turned assistant manager Marcus Stewart changing clubs this off-season.
The 46-year-old, scorer of so many memorable goals during his time in Suffolk, has worked alongside Darrell Clarke for many years but left The Gas in December following the manager's sacking.
The duo are back, though, taking over at League Two side Walsall.
Jon Stead
From one striker to another.
Jon Stead scored 20 goals in 67 games with the Blues but, as the years have gone on, he's been slipping down the league pyramid.
He scored 10 goals for Notts County last season but couldn't stop the famous old club's slide into the non-league game, which is where he'll be playing his football next season.
Now 36, Stead has been released by the Magpies but has quickly found a new club by signing on the dotted line with National League side Harrogate Town.
Scott Loach
Like Stead, Scott Loach is a former England Under 21 international now plying his trade in non-league football.
The Ipswich-supporting goalkeeper has played for seven clubs since leaving Portman Road in 2014 and spent last season in the National League with Hartlepool United.
He will be at that level against next season after signing for Darren Currie's Barnet.
Alex McCarthy
Another goalkeeper in the news recently is former Ipswich loanee Alex McCarthy, who made 10 appearances for the club in 2012 at a time of 'musical gloves' between the Town sticks.
He's been at Southampton since 2016 but, in recent days, has been linked with a move to Liverpool if Simon Mignolet moves on.
Dean Bowditch
Another former Ipswich striker on the move this summer is Dean Bowditch.
The former academy product, who once had England's biggest clubs looking at him following a stunning breakthrough, is a free agent after leaving Northampton Town.
Regular starts have been hard to come by but he still appeared 24 times last season, scoring three times.
Billy Clarke
Following Bowditch's emergence, Clarke was the next Ipswich youth product from whom big things were expected.
Sadly, injuries have struck at various points during the 31-year-old's career and he once again finds himself as a free agent after leaving Charlton Athletic.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at Bradford - his second spell with the Bantams - but it remains to be seen where he will be playing next season.
The rest
Here are few more former Ipswich players looking for new clubs this summer: Elliott Hewitt (Notts County), Danny Simpson (Leicester City), Brian Murphy (Cardiff), Stephen Henderson (Nottingham Forest), Ryan Tunnicliffe (Milwall), Ben Pringle (Preston), Tyrone Barnett (Cheltenham Town), Jacob Marsden (Hamilton), Conor Sammon (Hearts)
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