Ipswich Town shake-up? 2 players could follow Sammie Szmodics out of Portman Road in summer | OneFootball

Football League World looks at two players who could join Sammie Szmodics in leaving Ipswich Town this summer

Sammie Szmodics appears set to leave Ipswich Town this summer, having joined Derby County on loan in the winter transfer window.

As the Tractor Boys vie for an immediate Premier League return, Szmodics will not be the only player who leaves Portman Road this summer, and Kieran McKenna will reshape his squad regardless of which division his side are competing in next term.

For now, the Tractor Boys still have their eyes on beating promotion rivals Middlesbrough, Millwall, and Hull City to a top-two finish.

Speaking to the East Anglian Daily Times last month, McKenna revealed why Ipswich allowed Szmodics to join Derby on loan: "In the end, it wasn't a football decision, it wasn't related to his football performance. It was a decision that was made in the best interests of our group dynamic, of our dressing room culture, of the values of our dressing room and of our team.

"In those respects, the decision was made that it was best that Sammie wouldn't be with us for the rest of the season.

"Of course, there was a possibility of that being on a permanent transfer, but when there wasn't a suitable offer, it was still considered that it was the best for him not to be here this season. That's all I'm going to say on it, really."

Those comments indicate that Ipswich could sell Szmodics come the summer, but who could also be set for the exit door? Football League World looks at two players who could follow the former Blackburn Rovers man out of Portman Road.

Elkan Baggott

Elkan Baggott made his senior debut for the Tractor Boys back in 2020, but he has struggled for game time with the Suffolk club ever since, instead enduring loan spells with King's Lynn Town, Gillingham, Cheltenham Town, Bristol Rovers and, most recently, Blackpool.

The defender made 20 appearances for the Seasiders last term, and would have hoped to earn minutes in the Championship for McKenna's men this season.

However, Baggott has failed to make a single league appearance, although he was named in the Ipswich starting 11 who were knocked out of the FA Cup by Wrexham in February.

The 23-year-old is under contract at Portman Road until 2028, but he should push to make a permanent exit this summer for the sake of the development of his career.

There is no doubt that his continued lack of involvement for McKenna's side has stunted his growth as a player.

Kasey McAteer

As reported by BBC Sport, Kasey McAteer joined Ipswich in a deal worth around £12million, signing a four-year deal just last summer.

However, the former Leicester City man has seldom been named in McKenna's starting lineup, and could regret making the switch from the King Power Stadium to Portman Road, especially given the fact that the Foxes' struggles at the bottom end of the Championship could have seen him handed minutes.

McAteer scored six league goals to help Leicester win the second-tier title in the 2023/24 season, but he has been unable to make his mark on Ipswich's promotion-chasing efforts this campaign.

Despite joining the Tractor Boys just last summer, the winger should push for a loan or even a permanent exit at the end of the season, as he is clearly below the likes of Anis Mehmeti in McKenna's pecking order.