Ipswich Town will hope they don't regret Stoke City sealing Man City deal | OneFootball

Divin Mubama has joined Stoke City, leaving Ipswich Town with the hope they do not rue missing out on one of their targets.

Divin Mubama has joined Stoke City, leaving Ipswich Town with the hope they do not rue missing out on one of their targets.

The Tractor Boys were interested in the Manchester City youngster, but he has instead sealed a loan switch to Stoke.

Ipswich Town miss out on Manchester City starlet

The one item at the very top of the shopping list for Kieran McKennan and Town's backroom staff this summer remains a striker.

Liam Delap has left Ipswich to remain in the Premier League, with Chelsea winning the hotly-anticipated race for the English striker.

While the club also need a central midfielder this summer, after the likes of Manchester City loanee Kalvin Phillips exited Portman Road at the end of their Premier League campaign, their centre-forward gap is the biggest problem that still needs solving.

Mubama, who is 20 years old, came through the ranks at West Ham United before he caught the attention of City.

He has a strong goalscoring record already, with a combined 74 goals in 105 appearances across under-18 and under-21 level.

As well as entering the first-team squad in Manchester, being a part of the run to the FA Cup final under Pep Guardiola, he is a Europa Conference League winner.

The forward notched a goal and an assist during West Ham's continental triumph in 2023.

Mubama has registered 20 first-team appearances across his time at the Hammers and City, with an FA Youth Cup and caps throughout the England youth system to his name.

Divin Mubama may well excel at Stoke City

Stoke have worked well to recruit him this summer, with Town interested in a permanent deal. French club Lille were also keen on Mubama according to Fabrizio Romano, as the journalist wrote on his X account.

The Tractor Boys were said to be considering a move, having made an "initial request".

However, the English youth international has now found his new home. Joining the Potters for a season-long loan, he will line up against Ipswich as they hunt for a return to the Premier League following a devastating relegation.

McKenna will be hoping their failed attempt to recruit Mubama does not come back to haunt them, with Stoke instead the team that will benefit from his services for the 2025/26 campaign.

The search continues for the Tractor Boys, as they look to secure the reinforcements that will allow them to compete at the top of a division that packs a very real punch once again this season.

Handing Mubama his first chance at consistent first-team football could have been the way to plug the gap left by Delap's exit, but they will have to move on to other targets now.

If the City loanee hits the ground running at Stoke, then Ipswich could well live to rue missing out on his signature this summer.