Of all the promoted sides that emerged at the end of the thrilling 2023/24 season. in the Championship, Ipswich Town they will believe they have the best possible chance of staying up in the Premier League past this campaign.
They currently boast the joint best points tally with Leicester City and Southampton on 15, while they are also fresh off a surprise 2-0 win over Chelsea at the end of 2024 which will give them much-needed confidence.
However, there will be plenty of upheavals to test Ipswich’s resolve, meaning this January transfer window could be crucial in allowing them to add more quality to a squad desperate for survival.
If the Premier League underdogs could pull off this rumored attack, Kieran McKenna no doubt he would feel more confident if his team had a chance to stay in the elite division.
Ipswich target Premier League starlet
According to the Sky Sports presenter Dharmesh Sheth at X, Ipswich are interested in signing Jaden Philogene-Bidace at some stage this month.
Of course, in the summer, the Tractor Boys actually agreed to snap up the wily winger from Hull City, only for the Villans to pounce in the last minute.
His lack of game time at Villa Park – what led him to it only two starts in the Premier League – could mean he is allowed to leave Unai Emery’s men on loan very soon, with Ipswich monitoring the situation at a later date should he be released.
What Philogene could offer Ipswich
Once known for what it is “funny” former Hull boss Liam Rosenior’s ability on the ball, this could be a move that will see fans leave their seats at Portman Road even more regularly, and the deal may also see Ipswich pick up another star in the vein of Omari Hutchinson.
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Ipswich fans would certainly be hoping for the same magic that Hutchinson regularly provided last season on loan from Philogene, with the electric 22-year-old the Tigers’ absolute star in the Championship.
A far cry from the gutsy stroke above which he was in the race for a Puskas Award, Philogene would dismiss the home a a further 11 goals for Hull before Villa responded, racking up six assists as a nuisance to second-rate defenses who tried to thwart them.
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Philogene League Numbers (23/24) vs Hutchinson (23/24) |
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|---|---|---|
|
Statistics – per 90 minutes* |
||
|
Games played |
32 |
44 |
|
Goals scored |
12 |
10 |
|
Assists |
6 |
5 |
|
Recordings* |
3.6 |
1.5 |
|
Big chances were missed |
6 |
4 |
|
Great chances were created |
7 |
7 |
|
Sofascore statistics |
||
Hutchinson performed similarly for Ipswich when the club were also placed in the Championship, with the now regular Tractor Boys man scoring ten goals and collecting five assists en route to promotion.
His counterpart’s numbers are arguably more impressive, however, when you consider that the Tigers remain just short of the playoff picture, but the 22-year-old has still managed to shine so brightly.
Therefore, if given more opportunities to impress in the top flight away from the stifling surroundings of Emery’s camp, he could be successful, much like Hutchinson has been in spurts.
The Ipswich No.20 even fired home against Chelsea last time out to get the better of his old employers, with McKenna licking his lips at the prospect of playing Hutchinson on the right wing, while Philogene was favored on the left.
Another big plus of this deal would be the fact that the Villa striker can play on the right if needed, as he has played here 11 times for Hull, with Hutchinson also versatile enough to play in the number ten spot.
While it might seem strange that Ipswich would target new signings down the stretch, given the firepower already present, the addition of the 5ft 11 ace could help McKenna’s men pick up even more scalps to move away from the bottom three.
