With no Premier League victories coming their way during the early stages of 2025, Ipswich Town do look set to fall immediately back down to the Championship.
The Tractor Boys haven't completely disgraced themselves with memorable wins against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at least sticking out, but there just doesn't seem to be enough in the tank at Portman Road to maintain their top-flight position past this fleeting visit.
Kieran-McKenna
One factor that has arguably hindered Ipswich has been their hit-and-miss approach in the transfer market, with a number of loanees entering the building going on to have contrasting fortunes in Suffolk.
One of which is January arrival, Ben Godfrey.
Where Ben Godfrey ranks among Ipswich's loan signings
It has to be said that the Tractor Boys have at least been proactive in the market to try and give themselves a fighting chance at survival, regardless if many of their temporary signings haven't been overwhelming success stories.
The additions of Jens Cajuste and Kalvin Phillips have boosted the underdogs somewhat, with Cajuste even picking up two Player of the Month accolades for November and December, off the back of the Napoli loanee winning an encouraging 3.3 duels per league clash.
Cajuste
Moreover, the ex-Leeds United man has also shown flashes of his class by winning 3.9 duels per match but it hasn't been smooth sailing for every loan recruit.
Indeed, Julio Enciso has found his stint in Suffolk so far to be mainly injury-ridden, whilst the aforementioned Godfrey has largely found his spell away from Atalanta to be crushing for his confidence when looking at the sheer number of goals he's leaked lining up in defence.
Godfrey's numbers from two PL games for Ipswich
Stat
Minutes played
Goals conceded
Touches
Accurate passes
Clearances
Blocked shots
Interceptions
Total tackles
Total duels won
Stats by Sofascore
Looking at the numbers, Godfrey has looked out of his depth on his return to English soil, further leaving Ipswich full of anguish that they didn't sign anyone better over the winter.
As it happens, a fellow full-back is now starring after a loan spell at Portman Road many years ago.
Ipswich loan star is now a Ben Godfrey upgrade
As is the case with a large quantity of EFL clubs, the loan market proves to be invaluable in gifting your side some additional star quality on a short-term basis.
Where are they now
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.
When Ipswich were routinely competing towards the top end of the second tier, Portman Road was home to many a standout loanee, including ex-Arsenal youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles during the 2015/16 season.
At the time, Maitland-Niles was just a wide-eyed product of the illustrious Gunners academy eager to prove a point in the senior game, rated at just £210k, according to Transfermarkt.
Ainsley-Maitland-Niles
Fast forward past his formative time in Suffolk and Maitland-Niles would eventually go on to make a name for himself, with the versatile presence picking up an impressive two goals and three assists from 32 appearances when regularly lining up as a right winger.
The five-time senior England international had to spread his wings away from Arsenal to fully show off his best game, however, but his current spell at Olympique de Lyonnais is definitely playing to his strengths as an attack-oriented right-back.
Maitland-Niles' Lyon numbers this season
Games played
Goals scored
Assists
Clean sheets
Transfer value now
Value increase by %
Sourced by Transfermarkt
As a consequence of a handful of England caps and his performances in Ligue 1, his transfer valuation has gone all the way up to £8m during his time with the French giants, representing a major 3852% increase from his once meagre price-tag.
Ainsley-Maitland-Niles-Ipswich
Hailed as "tremendous" by football journalist Rob Sills during a different loan adventure out at Southampton, there must be some woe on Ipswich's end that they can't call upon Maitland-Niles in the right-back spot now when you take into account his six clean sheets for Lyon this campaign among other glowing numbers.
Capable of playing in midfield too, he could really have given McKenna a useful utility body, but the relegation-threatened side will simply have to make do with what they've got.
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