Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna says some change in his squad will be 'healthy' following relegation from the Premier League. (Image: PA)
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna says some change in his squad will be 'healthy' following relegation from the Premier League. (Image: PA)
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna says it's 'healthy' for there to be some change in his squad this summer following relegation back to the Championship.
The Blues are likely to announce their retained list in the next few days, with the transfer window opening on Sunday.
Top-scorer Liam Delap is on the verge of a switch to Chelsea after his £30m relegation release clause was triggered, with Ipswich understood to have made enquiries about young strikers Marc Guiu (Chelsea) and Divin Mubama (Man City).
There have been reports of interest in the likes of Omari Hutchinson, Leif Davis and Ben Johnson, though chairman Mark Ashton insists there is no pressure to sell any key assets.
Massimo Luongo's release has been announced, Axel Tuanzebe and Cameron Burgess remain in contract talks, while loan quartet Kalvin Phillips, Jens Cajuste, Julio Enciso and Ben Godfrey have returned to their parent clubs. It remains to be seen whether Town can strike a deal to bring Cajuste back from Napoli.
First team coach Lee Grant will need replacing after he took the manager's role at League One club Huddersfield Town.
Asked if he was confident of keeping the core of the squad together for 2025/26, McKenna replied: “I think very confident in terms of as much as we want it to be. It's important to say that some element of change and turnover is healthy in any business, certainly in football clubs.
"We've got some really good players on long-term contracts, lots of young players and some good senior players too.
"A lot of players have only arrived here this season and didn't even do the pre-season with us, having arrived at the back end of August or in January, who I think are going to be much better for the experience that they've been through.
"Looking at the squad coming back for pre-season there's good numbers and there's good qualities there.
"Of course, situations can change a little bit over the summer, but I think we're going to be in a really strong position."