Aro Muric had an error-strewn debut season at Town.Aro Muric had an error-strewn debut season at Town. (Image: Ross Halls)
AT LEAST ONE KEEPER...
Let's be honest, Town have got themselves in a bit of pickle when it comes to the goalkeeping department.
Aro Muric, an £8m signing from Burnley, made too many high profile errors in the first half of last season and was eventually dropped around the turn of the year.
Able deputy Christian Walton stepped up, did well, but then suffered a groin strain. Town rushed out and signed Alex Palmer for £2m from West Brom on January deadline day. He started superbly, but saw his form dip towards the end of the campaign.
How does the above now get unpicked? Do Town give up on Muric (who was a key man when Burnley won the Championship in 2022/23, don't forget)? If so, how do they move him on? A foreign loan move would be my guess.
Walton won't be too enamoured at the thought of potentially being a bench warmer for a third successive season. Will he back himself to reclaim the No.1 shirt, or might he push for a move? There's one year left on his deal.
There there's Cieran Slicker. The 22-year-old is highly thought of. He came from Manchester City and has been called into senior Scotland squads. With keeping housemate Delap happy now out of the equation, surely he has to go out on loan to start getting some game experience?
I predict at least one, possibly two, of the aforementioned quartet departing.
Cameron Burgess is in contract negotiations with the club.Cameron Burgess is in contract negotiations with the club. (Image: PA)
OUT OF CONTRACT DUO...
Kieran McKenna has said he wants to keep out of contract pair Axel Tuanzebe and Cameron Burgess, but recognises they need to explore their options. Long running talks continue with both.
The Blues will be fighting tooth and nail to retain Tuanzebe. The former Manchester United man looked very much at home, playing as that tucked in right-back, back in the Premier League. He will undoubtedly have suitors at that level, but I do think he could be convinced to stay and be a key man in project get-up-and-stay-up.
Burgess is a slightly different case. He'll see Jacob Greaves as a blocker and will probably be able to get the security of a longer-term deal elsewhere. I hope he stays, but, looking from the outside in, I'm not sure if the two parties will be able to meet in the middle. Remember, Vaclav Hladky was 'in talks' at the time of the retained list being announced last summer - and he eventually moved on.
Fulham have been credited with interest in Ben Johnson.Fulham have been credited with interest in Ben Johnson. (Image: Ross Halls)
BEN JOHNSON
Was one of the few players to arrive at Portman Road last summer with a decent amount of Premier League experience, but the 25-year-old was never quite able to nail down a starting spot in his debut season with the Blues.
Even when Tuanzebe was unavailable, Kieran McKenna seemed reluctant to use Johnson as a right-back with Dara O'Shea deployed there instead. Instead, the majority of his minutes came as a wing-back/winger and, with Wes Burns, Chiedozie Ogbene and Jaden Philogene all to return from injuries, there is going to be a lot more competition for that slot next season.
Having arrived from West Ham on a Bosman free transfer, a sale would represent pure profit and create more Financial Fair Play wriggle room.
I thought Johnson really grew into the 24/25 campaign and would be a big asset in the Championship. I can also see, however, why Town might cash in. Fulham are reportedly interested.
Will a Premier League club make Ipswich an offer they can't refuse for Leif Davis?Will a Premier League club make Ipswich an offer they can't refuse for Leif Davis? (Image: Steve Waller)
LEIF DAVIS
Left-back was an assist machine in the Championship, with all the talk going into last season being that he could break into the England squad. The 25-year-old's defensive frailties were exposed in the Premier League though and he admits his confidence took a real knock in the second half of the season.
Contracted at Portman Road until 2028, the 25-year-old is a protected asset. The likes of Nottingham Forest and West Ham have been credited with interest, but, at this juncture, would they stump up the sort of money that would make Ipswich consider a sale? I'm not so sure.
Really rooting for him come back stronger for Town in 2025/26.
Town skipper Sam Morsy has had interest from Saudi clubs in the past.Town skipper Sam Morsy has had interest from Saudi clubs in the past. (Image: Ross Halls)
SAM MORSY
The Town skipper has repeatedly said he plans to lead the club again next season.
Recently, when explaining the decision to release Massimo Luongo, McKenna said: "It's a position as a club where we need to try and invest in the future. Sam and Mass have done incredibly for the club. And, of course, Samy is still going to be an important part of it next year."
Morsy did play the second-most minutes in the squad last season. The 33-year-old will probably be the beating heart of the team/group again.
Saudi clubs have shown interest in him before though and I wouldn't blame him if he sought a big pay day finish to his career.
The Blues do have a new club captain in the making in Dara O'Shea.
Omari Hutchinson reportedly has a £35m relegation release clause.Omari Hutchinson reportedly has a £35m relegation release clause. (Image: Steve Waller)
OMARI HUTCHINSON
Town paid a club-record fee - £18m with the potential to rise to £22m - to turn the tricky attacker's loan from Chelsea permanent last summer.
The England Under-21 international scored three goals in 30 Premier League starts and one sub appearance, including a superb curling finish against Manchester United. Adding consistency to his game is the next step, but an elite level technical skillset is clearly there for all to see.
It's widely reported that the five-year contract signed includes a £35m relegation release clause. Has he done enough for someone to trigger that? I wouldn't rule out a club outside of the big six/eight feeling that represents a sound investment in rapidly developing potential.
He's been loosely linked to newly-promoted Leeds so far this summer.
Will Sunderland be interested in re-signing Jack Clarke following their promotion to the Premier League?Will Sunderland be interested in re-signing Jack Clarke following their promotion to the Premier League? (Image: PA)
JACK CLARKE
I had real sympathy for Jack Clarke last season. Getting up to speed was not easy given he arrived late in the transfer window, didn't get a run of starts and had to adapt to a completely different role to the one he'd shone in at Sunderland. Later in the campaign, when the door finally opened, he was twice the sacrificial sub after Town had men sent off in the first half.
All things considered, I was impressed with the way the 24-year-old improved (especially off the ball). And I've got no doubt that he could rip up the Championship with his mesmeric dribbling next season.
That said, Ipswich are not short of players for that inside left forward role. As it stands, there's also Sammie Szmodics, Nathan Broadhead and Philogene.
There's only one place I could see him going - and that's back to Sunderland following the Black Cats' promotion via the play-offs. If Ipswich can recoup their £15m, would that be better spent on other areas of the squad? It would certainly warrant some consideration. Still, that's a big hypothetical. Personally, I really hope he stays.
Nathan Broadhead made seven Premier League starts in the season just gone.Nathan Broadhead made seven Premier League starts in the season just gone. (Image: PA)
NATHAN BROADHEAD
Welsh forward didn't have the best preparation for the Premier League after his pre-season was wiped out by a calf injury. When fit, he then often found himself behind the likes of Szmodics, Clarke and Julio Enciso in the pecking order.
The 29-year-old was still able to make some key contributions to the season though. He scored two goals, a cool finish in the win at Bournemouth and a thumping equaliser against West Ham on the final day, from seven league starts and 11 sub appearances.
As already outlined, however, Town are not short of options in that inside left forward slot. Might Broadhead, a key protagonist in the back-to-back promotions, be one that makes way? He's now in the final year of his contract and I could see Wrexham wanting to take him back to his boyhood club.
McKenna does like to have variety and depth in his attacking unit. An offer would certainly have to be the right one.