Ipswich Town are likely to be in the hunt for a new striker in the summer transfer window as they get ready for their return to the Championship following relegation from the Premier League.
Liam Delap looks almost certain to depart once this season comes to an end, and Kieran McKenna will make finding his successor a priority in the next few months as the Tractor Boys look for an instant return to the top flight.
Ipswich fans have a positive outlook on relegation, and it will allow them to prepare their squad further ahead of any future seasons in the Premier League but without a quality number nine, they will struggle to compete for the top two.
Nevertheless, it seems as though the Suffolk outfit have identified their number one target but they will face competition from one of the sides replacing them in England’s highest division next season.
Ipswich Town will have to see off Leeds United in their hunt for Willem Geubbels
As per The Guardian, Liam Delap has a £30m release clause in his contract and multiple clubs are chasing his signature. Therefore, the addition of Willem Geubbels at Ipswich could be the perfect way to recover from the ex-Derby County and Manchester City youth player’s loss.
Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
The 23-year-old is currently playing his football in the Swiss Super League for FC. St Gallen, where he scored 13 goals in 30 league games for the club as they narrowly missed out on the title to FC Basel.
Despite having European football awaiting him, the draw of playing in England is strong while German outfit Union Berlin are also competing against Leeds United and Ipswich for his signature, according to Berliner Kurier.
The Whites showed an interest in the forward in January, alongside Union Berlin who according to the report are looking to offer St Gallen €6-€7m for his services. However, potential offers from Ipswich Town or Leeds have not been mentioned.
While the Tractor Boys will have finances on hand to offer the Swiss side if they do proceed with a move for Geubbels, they will be competing against a Premier League side in the Whites for his signature.
Competition Apps Goals Assists
Swiss Super League 30 13 3
Swiss Cup 1 0 0
Conference League 3 0 0
Conference League qualifiers 6 2 0
Willem Geubbels FC. St Gallen stats by competition 2024/25 – (TransferMarkt)
There is a significant pull that comes with England’s top flight, and Daniel Farke will need as many reinforcements as possible to avoid relegation straight back to the second tier.
The Championship has already seen transfer action, and Ipswich Town will be hoping that they can join the party quickly as soon as their season is officially over. Finding the successor for Delap will be tough, but at 23, Geubbels would be one for the future.
Nevertheless, the ball may just be in Leeds’ court as they look to add to their strike force after a high-scoring campaign for Farke’s team that saw them beat Burnley to the league title on the final day of the 2024/25 season.