Ipswich Town face £7.5m transfer decision - He 'flatters to deceive' | OneFootball

Jens Cajuste hasn’t started a league game for the Tractor Boys since the 31st January

Swedish midfielder Jens Cajuste hasn’t started a league game for Ipswich Town since the 31st January.

The 26-year-old's loan deal from Napoli contains a buy-clause that could see the Tractor Boys pay around £7.5m if they reach the Premier League.

When he initially re-joined the Tractor Boys last summer after a strong first stint in Suffolk, he told the East Anglian Daily Times that the area "suits me like a hand in a glove."

But, given how this season is panning out for him personally, has Cajuste done enough to warrant a permanent deal at that aforementioned figure?

Jens Cajuste "flatters to deceive" at Ipswich Town under Kieran McKenna

Ipswich’s head coach, Kieran McKenna, made it clear at the time that bringing Cajuste back to Portman Road was a priority - describing the midfielder as an “outstanding” player who he believed could make a real difference.

However, FLW’s Ipswich Town Fan Pundit, Adam Wilkin, admits that perhaps the Town boss now holds a slightly different view when questioned about the £7.5m price-tag.

"Cajuste is one that flatters to deceive," Wilkin explained. "You watch him absolutely turn a midfielder, leave him for dead in the middle of the park one minute, and then the next minute, just completely switch off and not track his man."

The Fan Pundit added, "He's a bit of an enigma to me. He’s clearly got the talent, I wouldn’t even say he’s lacking work rate because he does try hard, I think he just doesn’t have the mentality to almost stay switched on for the entire game."

In truth, the Swede has started just 13 of the 29 Championship games he's featured in so far this season, and his last start overall came in the 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Wrexham back in February.

McKenna’s recent team selections show that Cajuste isn’t currently among the first midfield names on the teamsheet heading into the final run-in. With Ipswich just two points off the automatic promotion places and holding a game in hand, it’s hard to see the manager suddenly trusting him to start.

Ipswich Town urged to consider paying Napoli £7.5m for Jens Cajuste

Wilkin then told FLW, "I think it’s that and his injury issues that are probably why he’s valued so lowly. He was excellent in the Premier League last year, but he’s not really proved that can translate down a division to the Championship."

According to transfermarkt, Cajuste hasn't missed any full games of the 25/26 campaign through injury, but the midfielder was forced off at half-time against Hull City back in November.

Ultimately, though, it's hard to escape the feeling that McKenna’s side would probably want more reliability for £7.5m, especially when you consider the fact that Azor Matusiwa cost the club £7.8m.

"I think it depends on what the market’s like," Wilkin concluded. "£7.5m in the current market feels like a reasonable price, but even so, I’m not sure if I was in charge of Ipswich Town transfers I’d be paying that £7.5m myself."

In Wilkin's case, it seems like Cajuste has been fairly disappointing to watch in the second tier after a good first stint in the Premier League.