Ipswich transfer targets summer 2025: Hackney deal still on?

Ipswich have splashed the cash across the last two transfer windows but they were trying to bridge a huge gap having jumped from League One to the Premier League in just two seasons. It proved a step too far.

The Tractor Boys will be looking to bounce straight back up in 2025/26 though and will be busy in the summer transfer window. A lot has been made about Ipswich's defensive issues this season and on their reliance on Liam Delap at the other end, so those two areas will likely be the focus for Ipswich this summer.

As the time ticks by for Ipswich, they have already done a lot of smart transfer business already, and it will no doubt be interesting to see what their overall squad looks like come the end of the summer window. The Tractor Boys have also let a number of players leave the club, most notably Delap to Chelsea and Omari Hutchinson to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League for big fees, and some other players in the squad have also been linked with potential moves away from Portman Road before the deadline.

Ipswich have had a poor start to the new campaign by their standards, not winning any of their first four games in the Championship and picking up a mere three points in total. Nonetheless, the Tractor Boys will be hoping that their new signings will help them shoot up the table come the end of the season, as they will be aiming for an immediate return to the Premier League.

Ipswich transfer targets Summer 2025

Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough)

According to Football League World, Ipswich have re-ignited their interest in signing midfielder Hayden Hackney from fellow Championship rivals Middlesbrough before the summer transfer window closes. The Tractor Boys had originally agreed a £20m transfer fee for him, but he turned down the move to Portman Road.

Elijah Adebayo  (Luton)

Given that Delap has left, Ipswich might look for a replacement in Elijah Adebayo, and he could be a reliable option, having netted 10 Premier League goals for Luton in 2023/24 at a rate of 0.63 per 90 minutes.

That includes high-profile goals against Arsenal and Manchester City as well as a barnstorming hat-trick against Brighton. The Englishman is quick and strong, also providing a superb outlet to escape pressure.

His battering ram approach is not dissimilar to that of Delap. That said, it has been a tough return to the Championship for Luton and Adebayo himself, with the Hatters suffering back-to-back relegations.

A parting of the ways could therefore suit all parties, as Luton need to sell, and Adebayo would get the chance to return to Premier League level, after showing much promise last season.

Haji Wright (Coventry)

Wright caught the eye during the Sky Blues’ FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United, but the forward netted 16 and assisted a further six in the Championship last season as well.  Going further back, he also scored 14 and 15 in his previous two seasons for Turkish side Antalyaspor.

Despite injury keeping him out for several months of this season, Wright has still produced plenty of goals and assists. He can play both wide or through the middle, and this would allow him to dovetail with Delap, or replace him.

Working with Coventry boss Frank Lampard, a legendary goalscorer himself, has helped him to develop and mature even more. Also a full USA international, Wright looks like he could fit in well with the Tractor Boys.

Flynn Downes (Southampton)

Flynn Downes once donned the blue and white of Ipswich before outgrowing the club for Premier League football via a Championship detour at Swansea. Last summer, after Downes had helped Southampton to promotion alongside Ipswich whilst on loan from West Ham, Kieran McKenna wanted to bring the midfielder back to Portman Road.

It did not happen. A pre-existing relationship with then-Saints boss Russell Martin was the difference maker. Martin was sacked, Ivan Juric did not fancy Downes, and Ipswich returned in January. It did not happen this time because the Southampton hierarchy did not want to sell to a relegation rival.

Ipswich have become known for long, drawn-out pursuits of players, though with George Hirst and Jaden Philogene two examples that have been courted over multiple windows, so it is hardly a surprise that Downes is once again one of Ipswich's transfer targets.

William Boving (Sturm Graz)

According to EFL Analysis, Ipswich, as well as fellow Championship rivals Coventry, are interested in signing Sturm Graz attacker William Boving before the summer transfer window closes. The Denmark U21 international featured in the most recent UEFA European Championships, and scored a total of 11 goals and made a further 10 assists in all competitions at club level in the 2024/25 campaign.