Ipswich Town transfer talk: Lazio defender, World Cup talent and 6ft 8ins goalkeeper linked

0:08Ross Halls:Hello everybody, it's me Roscoe and welcome to the latest episode of the Kings of Anglia Itteristown Transfer Talk Series where you keep up to speed on the latest links and rumours surrounding the Blues. Of course, Gary O 'Neill has already got busy in the transfer window signing his first player in Brazilian striker Emerson. Of course, signing for a record transfer fee for£24 million plus add-ons. I'm joined today by Stuart Watson. Normally it's AJ here to discuss rumours and transfers, but he's on holiday. What a replacement I've got in Stuart Watson. We missed you, AJ, but Stu, how are you, my friend?

0:42I'm good, thank you. Transfer rumours galore. Gobble, gobble, gobble. They're coming from all over the world now. We never thought we'd be in this position, would we, with signing a Brazilian striker, getting linked to people from every league, of every nationality. unthinkable a few years ago but but here we are as Ipswich prepare for the Premier League again and we're trying our very best to separate fact from fiction so let's get stuck into a few of the

1:10Ross Halls:names that are knocking about yes my friend yeah you've been covering the club for a very long time and there was a period where there was just like oh what free agent's gonna sign who's gonna come on loan from a Premier League club tryless I can't see us ever signing tryless anymore when you know when you've got a pre-season game, go, oh, who's that? We haven't seen him before. You have to figure out and then ask the manager, oh, you've got him on trial. What's the stuff like that? Two words. Leon Best. Not that long ago, is it? So we've come a long way, baby. We have indeed. And yeah, as you say, we're sort of linked with players all across the world.

1:45Ross Halls:A Portuguese, a Dutch, Italian, an Ivory Coast international. We're going to get right stuck in. So we've signed one striker, Stu, and then a Brazilian striker. Now a Portuguese frontman's been linked who's banging the goals up in Scotland with Hearts. Claudio Braga is the name. A 26-year-old town apparently entered the race for the Portuguese. What do you know about this one, my friend? Yeah, this comes from the Daily Record north of the border, as you say. Claudio Braga, part of a lethal strike partnership with Lauren Shankland for Hearts, who agonisingly missed out on the SPL title on the final day.

2:23Braga was player of the year. I think Shankum maybe is the one that's more known to people and he's just moved to Rangers. But Braga was player of the year, 17 goals,

2:35diminutive penalty box poacher if you look at his goals, lots of rebounds, sniffing around for chances. The report states that, yeah, as you say, Ipswich have entered the race along with Lyon in France and Trabzonspor in Turkey. interestingly hearts use the jamestown analytics model which ipswich used in the championship it's obviously created by brighton's owners they've kind of leased it out to other clubs or are in partnership with other clubs i don't know if ipswich have access to that again now because they're in the same division as brighton but clearly he might have been someone that's come up on the radar through that.

3:16£8-10 million is the valuation, apparently. My understanding is he's not one that's on Ipswich's list at the moment. Those things can change, but yeah, I don't think he's one that Ipswich are going to go for, is my understanding.

3:31Ross Halls:Okay, yeah, he scored 17 goals last season. As you say, Hart's missing out on that title, which I was hoping they were going to do it because it's normally a Rangers Celtic win the title. What's your thoughts, Stu? Once again, a lot of people, when they see a player scoring goals in Scotland, go, oh, just Scotland. But how do you feel about that in terms of players we sort of link with if it's playing in Scotland and sort of doing really well? It's a different level, isn't it? I don't know. SPL is certainly not Premier League. I don't know what it would equate to. But undoubtedly, you know, if you're a good player and it can translate, it's no different to signing someone from a different type of European league of a certain level.

4:12So, yeah, I can't say I watched loads of him last season. I've watched back some of his goals and the highlights. He pulls out the Ronaldo Sioux celebration, which is a bit of a crowd pleaser. Still got two years left on his deal. He has said that he'd quite like to stay. Hearts could get into the Champions League. They've got a qualifying game coming up later this month, but the new Hearts manager has kind of conceded that they might have to sell some players for decent money because that's part of the model. So it looks like he will be leaving. I get the feeling this might be one that's kind of trying to drive a report that's probably just trying to drive his price up and get maximum money for Hearts.

4:51But as things stand, not one on Ipswich's list. That said, Ipswich will almost certainly be in for another striker. Emerson, club record fee, but culturally, tactically, physically, there's going to be some adaptation period for him. Can you rely on him being the main man? I mean, hopefully he'll hit the ground running. I think it will be him, Hurst and A another. So we'll see what other names come up in due course.

5:21Ross Halls:Yeah, of course, Town look like they're going to miss out. Well, they are going to miss out on Callum Wilson, of course. Brentford have won that race. Hasn't been confirmed yet as we record, but we pretty much know he's heading there, my friend. Yeah, looks like it, sounds like it. One-year deal at Brentford that's a shame because I think he would have been ideal I think you look for a bit of variety in your striker options I think what Ipswich lack now is a real experienced option up there and Callum Wilson 95 Premier League goals would have ticked a lot of boxes for me but yeah as I say it looks like he's going to Brentford so I'll have to have a little look back through some of the list of names and see who might also fit that sort of bill OK, we shall wait and see.

6:04Ross Halls:Let's then switch to back of the pitch, and that's goalkeeper, because Town have been linked with so many different goalkeepers this summer. Nick Pope is, of course, one of the big names, and, of course, a local lad as well at Newcastle. But we've been linked to a new goalkeeper, and he's a big boy, Stu. We had Thomas Holy in goal for a few seasons, and he was big as well. We've got a Dutch keeper here in Kool, Sherpin, I probably completely butchered that, I'll let you say it better yeah, formerly of Brighton, he's been doing really well in Belgium with Union St. Gilais Gilois in Belgium Kiel I think is probably how we're pronouncing this, K-J-E-L-L Sherpin as you say 6 foot 8 which would make him 2 inches taller than Aro Mürich, I can't remember Thomas Holy's height but probably of a similar as Stutcher.

7:01Yeah. This one comes from Sky Sports. So pretty good source there. 26 years of age, Dutch, and he kept 21 clean sheets for his Belgian employers last season, formerly of Ajax. And as you mentioned, Brighton as well. They only made one appearance for them during his three years there. There's that Brighton link again, Ipswich, obviously trying to mirror the success that Brighton have had in terms of their recruitment. the fact that they've used Jamestown in recent years shows you that they want to spread the net further they want to find these hidden gems and sell for profit ultimately my understanding is he's won on a list of goalkeepers I think we went into this summer pondering whether Christian Walton would be the undisputed number one and whether Ipswich would make any changes in the goalkeeper department I think it's increasingly clear that Ipswich are shopping for another goalkeeper almost certainly another number one.

8:00Nick Pope, Newcastle, former England international, massive Ipswich fan growing up is clearly in the mix. Not as progressed as some outlets have made out, but I think there have been some preliminary discussions there. But plenty of plates spinning on the goalkeeper front. I lose track of the amount that have been linked now. There's Goulamy Rest at Toulouse, another Toulouse player. where Emerson has come from, young Frenchman that is highly rated. He's been linked to Villa and Napoli, so that one might be a little bit unrealistic. Orlando Gill, Paraguayan goalkeeper, playing at the World Cup at the moment.

8:42He's been sort of tentatively linked in South America again. Villa linked to him as well as Manchester United. So read into that what you will. Yeah, there's plenty of names knocking about for goalkeeper. Sherpen, one on the list. So, looks like a goalkeeper will be incoming. We'll see how all that progresses.

9:05Ross Halls:Yes, indeed. I think it's Radek Vitek of Bristol City, of course, May United. He's been linked. I think the Stoke City Swedish goalkeeper, Victor Janssen as well, we've spoken about, me and AJ. I wasn't expecting us to speak about so many goalkeepers this summer so far. I was expecting, you know, strikers and other positions. but goalkeepers, yeah, it's probably five or six that have already been named. So I feel sorry for Christian Walton, really. He's probably looking like, oh, all right, Gary. But I think it's, you know, as any team, when you get promoted, they want to strengthen in all departments and, you know, it's competition at the end of the day.

9:40Ross Halls:But then goes, oh, Alex Palmer, he must be thinking, I want to play in regular football. And we've already had this discussion on the podcast, didn't we, when we did a keep, loan, sell. And I think a lot of us went, well, Alex Palmer, potentially loan him out or sell him because he's probably not going to start if Christian Walton is number one at the moment. I think that looks increasingly likely, Ross. I can't see a world in which Walton and Palmer both stay to be second slash third choice. So Alex Palmer, I think, would be the more likely departure. I know there's been talk of a return to West Brom.

10:13You'd imagine Ipswich will wait till they get a keeper in the door before they progress on that side of things in terms of exits.

10:21Ross Halls:okay well let's talk then a page oh god sorry Stu all right I've got AJ in my mind when we do transfer talk but um let's talk about a left back Stu yeah um and someone to compete with Leif Davis I think it's definitely a position we need to strengthen in with Colin Townsend leaving and Leif Davis needs that competition and it's an Italian uh 27 year old left back from Lazio and that is Luca Pellegrini uh and yeah I like this one a one senior cap for Italy although that was back in 2020. Used to play for Roma and Juventus as well. Yeah, let us know a little bit more on this one, my friend. Applada said to be looking for a move abroad.

10:59Ross Halls:He's been at Lazio now for a couple of seasons and yeah, a 27-year-old. Yeah, as you said at the start, left-back is undoubtedly an area that Ipswich need to strengthen. They kind of muddled through at times last year with the Connor Townsend ACL injury right on the eve of the season. meant that Leif Davis really had no kind of proper backup, did he? And Ben Johnson filled in there and filled in well at times. Likewise, Jacob Greaves. But going into the Premier League, Leif Davis needs proper competition, I would suggest.

11:36I think he's a more rounded player now. I think he deserves his chance to go again in the Premier League. I think the system didn't help him at times in the Premier League last time in terms of bombing forwards and maybe not having the cover against world-class wingers, but he needs someone to really compete and keep him on his toes. Luca Pellegrini, three seasons at Lazio, 47 starts, 35 sub appearances during that time, so a decent amount of Serie A experience for a big, big Italian club in Lazio. 17 of those starts came last season. As you say, 27, final year of his contract. Watched a little bit of his highlights reel.

12:15he's attack minded, he bombs forward and he's got great hair as well if you were to picture an Italian defender in your mind it is Luca Pellegrini if you have a look at him, this one comes from La Repubblica, an Italian newspaper and they suggest as you say that he's quite keen on a different challenge and moving abroad Deportivo, La Coruña and Espanyol are the two Spanish clubs that have been linked with him

12:41Ross Halls:Oh, an Italian that would be great, we're not an Italian since It's Matteo Serrini, of course. And funny enough, there was a link with Lazio that when we sold him back to Lazio, there was like, we needed a pre-season game. We got one, we didn't get that second one. So maybe part of this deal, if it does happen, we can say, yeah, also, can we get that other friendly in place? But yeah, it's always interesting when Lazio's name comes up, a lot of town fans straight away jump on that sort of pre-season. Yeah, I know that often gets talked about. When is that Lazio friendly going to happen? So, yeah, need a left back, whether it will be Pellegrini.

13:19Again, I've made some inquiries about him and some cold water has been poured on this one so far. Oh, it's a shame.

13:27Ross Halls:But we shall see then, my friend. Let's talk about then an exciting winger in Simón. I think it's not Simon, it's Simón, isn't it? Dingra, a town among a number of clubs interested in signing him. A 24-year-old, I don't know, a coast winger. Was that the World Cup? Just gone. Of course, I think only he played one game, though, for them. But in limited time at the Black Cats, Denise Stoo, signed for them for£18 million last summer, but then spent the second half of last season on loan at Monaco. Of course, was that Brighton? So I'm sure that Jamestown's analytics are going to get involved again as well.

14:01Ross Halls:Let us know a bit more on this one, my friend. Yeah, there's that Brighton link again. The spider's web kind of often leads back to this, doesn't it? This one comes from Sebastian Dennis. from French media outlet Foot Mercato. Yeah, says Ipswich are among several clubs ready to move if he is made available for a permanent transfer this year. Monaco want him back on loan, allegedly, but Roma, Leipzig and Hull City, who seem to be linked with every player Ipswich are getting linked with at the moment, are also said to be keen if he's available to buy permanently. you've outlined his career there he was at Norsjylland which is where Sindra Voleogeli came from before he moved to Brighton,£6 million 48 starts, 26 sub appearances, 12 goals, 5 assists for Brighton, had some exciting moments in a Seagull shirt if you have a look at him he can play on the left he can play on the right, he's right footed he's direct, he's got a few tricks in him as well, a bit of a crowd pleaser but Brighton let him go last summer to Sunderland, newly promoted Sunderland for£18 million.

15:12He was one of the rare bits of business that didn't really come off for the Blackcats last year. They did so well in the transfer window, didn't they, going on to finishing Europe. But Odinga limited appearances in the first half of the season, 10 starts, 5 substitute appearances, and ends up going out on loan to Monaco, second half of the season. That would have been a good experience. He played against PSG in the Champions League during his spell there, contributed 3 goals for them. Yeah, just come on against Germany in the World Cup, as you say. It's just a little cameo against them. Do Ipswich Town want slash need a winger in this mould is another question.

15:51This might link back to the final person we're about to talk about on this podcast. Do they need a right-sider? They've got Wes Burns signed up to a new deal. We've got the aforementioned Violeta Gelli, Casey McIntyre, who finished last season in good form. and then on the left, Philogene and Clark look to have things locked down. But yeah, I'll let you pick up the baton from there.

16:14Ross Halls:Yes, my friend. I'm just having a little check about Odingre. He did play against Gary O 'Neill Stragsborg in a 5-4 defeat for Monaco. So Gary O 'Neill would have seen him a little bit in that game. Last game of the season that was, I think. Yeah, yeah. So what a thriller that is. 5-4. What a game to end with for Gary O 'Neill. You know, a nine-goal thriller and your team winning, which is fantastic. But once again, I'm just jumping on the bandwagon. I've watched his highlights, someone at Digra, and I like him already, especially his spell at Brighton. Some of the goals he scored and some of the assists and stuff were incredible.

16:50Ross Halls:And as you mentioned, Sunderland may not work out at the moment because they've signed so many great players and there's always going to be one or two that may not work out. But he's still a very good age, 24, and he can play on both flanks. and that sort of segues me on to Jalen Villagin. Just to mention Adingra, he signed a five-year deal at Sunderland last summer and he's only one year into that. They paid£18 million for him. So, you know, I think Reggie Labrice, their manager, has kind of said not sure what his future is going to be, but what they'll want to sort of claw back for him, whether it's another loan, whether they sell him permanently, we'll see.

17:31But, yeah, do Ipswich need a winger? I don't know.

17:37Ross Halls:Yeah. The good thing with him, though, is that if there's an option to sign him on loan, with an option to buy, if he has a really good time, then we sign him permanently. But we'll watch this space on that. But, yeah, winger-wise, I think we do probably still need one more, maybe two, especially if Jadon Filagene leaves Exus Dorstu because he is signed for a new agency and in quote marks, he could leave the 24-year-old. Of course, had a very good season last year, 13 goals, scored some incredible goals. You know, the Norwich goal is still up there. It's one of my favourite goals ever. He's already been linked with an Italian club in Bologna early in the summer.

18:14Ross Halls:Of course, Town signed him for£20 million only in January 2025. So I'm sure Town want to make sure they get a profit on him if they do sell him. What do you know about this one, my friend? yeah um whenever a player changes agent you kind of think what's what's the motivation behind that why are you doing it this summer um he was with uh Ivo Camacho who was uh part of one one vision sports and if you remember there was quite a lot of shenanigans when he signed for Ipswich uh in the January or even the summer before Ipswich were after him and then eventually he went to Villa because of this matching clause.

18:55I can't remember exactly what we were describing it as, but he went back to Villa, didn't he? And Ipswich missed out initially. And there was various posts from his agent at the time of standing out, oh, here I am in the car park at Barcelona with his sunglasses on. And then I think they pulled the same trick with Everton as well to try and create a bit of noise around his client, which I think got sort of called out at the time. And now he's switched agents and he's gone to Team Raiola, who are the sort of the legacy agency that was set up following the late Mino Raiola, who you might remember as kind of one of the original super agents who had all the stars of the day on his books, no longer with us, but he's got an agency in his name that has the likes of Donnarumma, Graven Birch, Mickey Van Der Ven, who's just made a big money move this summer.

19:52so what's the motivation what's the thinking behind that the fact that our friend Fabrizio Romano the transfer specialist has not only said that he's changed agents but said it could mean that he leaves Ipswich this summer somebody's trying to kind of push that narrative behind the scenes aren't they so what do Ipswich do about that, what's their position I think the first starting point is he's still got three years left on his contract and they're not in a position where they desperately need to raise funds because of the backing of the US owners and because they're not really tight to any kind of financial fair play margins.

20:30We've seen that with the accounts and the headroom that's there. So if, and it's a big if, Jadon is agitating for a move or his people are agitating for a move, Ipswich have got a strong hand here. As you say, they paid£20 million for him only 18 months ago.

20:49you'd be wanting to get back at least that if not more. Now, it's interesting to see the response from Ipswich fans to this news almost like immediately they've taken this as gospel and he doesn't want to be here and get rid. We don't know that from Jadon's point of view. I know he's a quiet lad. I know he's maybe not connected with the fan base from a personality point of view, but this could just be the people around him. It's not always down to the player. So I'd be disappointed if he left. I'll say that because he's a player with star quality. He's a former England under-21 international. He's someone that Villa paid a lot of money for for a reason.

21:29And he's got that X factor. We saw it in the Championship last season. And Ipswich are going to need that in the Premier League. I guess the fact that Jack Clark is there and on the books would soften the blow. And you could maybe think about investing that money in a different way. in other areas of the squad that are in more need. You could put that slant on it, I guess. But I really hope he stays. That's my feeling.

21:52Ross Halls:Yeah, I was very surprised seeing the reaction from fans on social media. I know it's social media. Sometimes I don't want to look at it too much. But I was like, wow, we were loving this man. This young lad, scoring goals, scored that incredible goal against Norwich, as I already mentioned. And straight away, like, no, don't care. He doesn't want to be here. He wants to be in the big lights of the city. But for me, I think he's grown into his time at town now. I think with the goals he scored and the celebration and stuff like that. Last time out in the Premier League, unfortunately, he got that injury, didn't he?

22:28Ross Halls:I think that's what a lot of people remember. Maybe he won't be able to make the step up to the Premier League because he didn't really do it last time, did he? We spent all that money on him. We got relegated, did nothing. But he did get an injury really bad. I don't read too much into that first six months at Ipswich. I think moving mid-season is always difficult. He barely played for Villa in the first half of the season. So, you know, trying to get up to speed in a very unforgiving environment is hard, especially in a team that's struggling. Yes, first impressions were he looked a little bit lightweight.