One of the big transfer stories in the Championship this summer has been regarding the future of Ipswich Town star Omari Hutchinson, and it looks to be coming to an end now.
After losing Liam Delap earlier this summer, Kieran McKenna would have been keen to keep the rest of his Ipswich Town squad together for the new season.
However, speculation over Omari Hutchinson’s future began last month with links to Brentford. That particular deal fell through, but the player made it clear he wanted to move on.
Hutchinson now appears to be close to getting his wish, and the transfer fee mooted is record-breaking in more ways than one.
Ipswich Town forward Omari Hutchinson
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Omari Hutchinson set to sign for Nottingham Forest
After Hutchinson missed Ipswich’s last game, the Carabao Cup defeat to Bromley, McKenna explained that the youngster’s head wasn’t in the right place amid all the speculation.
Just days later, it’s now reported by David Ornstein that Nottingham Forest are “in the process of agreeing” a move for Hutchinson that will be worth £37.5m. Personal terms are agreed, but “final decisions” from Ipswich’s side need to be made before the deal is done.
That fee will eclipse the £30m received for Delap at the start of the window, making Hutchinson the most expensive Ipswich Town sale of all time.
It’s a phenomenal fee, especially for a Championship club. It will make Hutchinson the sixth most expensive Championship departure of all time, too, behind Harvey Barnes, Nathan Ake, James Maddison, Georginio Rutter, and Romeo Lavia.
Omari Hutchinson during Nottingham Forest FC v Ipswich Town FC - Premier League
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Ipswich Town’s record sale will now surpass Sunderland and Arsenal figures
What is truly incredible is that this sale would not only enter the Ipswich Town record books, it would also eclipse the record sales at Sunderland, Burnley, Arsenal and Newcastle United, too.
Jobe Bellingham’s high profile move to Borussia Dortmund earlier this summer is reported to have cost an initial £27m (as per BBC Sport). The same fee applied to James Trafford’s switch to Man City this summer, to become Burnley’s biggest sale.
Obviously, the Black Cats and the Clarets were in the second tier last season, so it’s fair to assume that their record departures would be in a similar ballpark to Ipswich’s.
However, the fact that Arsenal and Newcastle United, established Premier League giants, have never sold a player for more than the fee set for Omari Hutchinson is rather astounding.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the record Arsenal sale with a £32.75m move to Liverpool, while Nottingham Forest paid Newcastle £35m for Elliot Anderson (as per Sky Sports) to break the Magpies’ record.