Stuart Watson

Ipswich Town manager Gary O'Neil says the club will approach its return to the Premier League without fear after a 4-2 pre-season win over Union Berlin. He praised the team's preparation, supporters and ambitious summer recruitment, while acknowledging the difficulty of fixtures against Sunderland, Manchester United and Liverpool. O'Neil called for strong backing from fans and a full commitment from everyone at the club, even though results will not always match performances.

Exequiel Palacios has reportedly requested a move away from Bayer Leverkusen and is now open to joining Ipswich Town, while also reducing his financial demands. Ipswich previously had a €15 million offer rejected but cooled its interest after Leverkusen quoted a €35 million price. Palacios has made 185 appearances for Leverkusen and helped them win the 2023/24 Bundesliga title, although an adductor injury limited him to 12 league starts last season. Ipswich manager Gary O'Neil has already overseen more than £100 million of summer spending, and chairman Mark Ashton says the club intends to remain active while operating within financial fair-play rules.

Ipswich Town manager Gary O'Neil confirmed that Ali Al-Hamadi's proposed loan move to Polish club Raków Częstochowa collapsed after a medical concern reportedly related to a cardiac issue. Harry Clarke's planned £3.5 million transfer to Stoke City also appears to have fallen through at the medical stage. Both players are back with or being supported by Ipswich, while O'Neil expects further departures and arrivals during the transfer window.

Ipswich Town manager Gary O’Neil said Jaden Philogene has returned to training and is in good shape but has not yet done enough to feature in pre-season, amid reports that the winger may want to leave. O’Neil also said midfielders Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor could return around the Sunderland match after recovering from surgery, though their availability remains uncertain.

Stoke City are reportedly prepared to offer a transfer package worth about £10 million for Ipswich Town striker George Hirst, despite other Championship clubs being interested in a loan. Hirst, who joined Ipswich permanently from Leicester for £1.5 million, played a key role in the club’s successive promotions and scored 11 goals last season. Ipswich may be reluctant to sell until another striker is signed, while Hirst could be attracted by the prospect of becoming Stoke’s leading forward.

Ipswich Town defeated Le Havre 1-0 at Portman Road in a pre-season friendly, with Chuba Akpom heading in the winner after Abdul Fatawu capitalized on a defensive mistake. Gary O'Neil used 22 players, and Ipswich controlled the match despite creating few chances. The verdict assesses new signings Emersonn, Daizen Maeda and Fatawu, considers Kasey McAteer's possible wing-back role, reviews several absences and notes ongoing stadium improvements. Tactically, Ipswich continue to favor a possession-based, front-footed approach, although a more defensive system may be tested before the Premier League season begins.