Ipswich Town must ignore Zan Vipotnik transfer & pay attention to Leeds United | OneFootball

Zan Vipotnik of Swansea City might be a mistake for Ipswich Town and Leeds United is where they have to turn their attentions instead...

Ipswich Town have recently been tipped to make a statement move for Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik if they return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

On the surface, it is a deal that makes plenty of sense for a club like Ipswich Town going up. Signing the best of the Championship is often the way to go and the Swansea City striker has been nothing short of prolific across the 2025/26 campaign.

His consistency in front of goal has undoubtedly set him apart from the rest of the strikers in the division this season. In fact, barring a dramatic drop-off, he looks almost certain to secure the Championship’s Golden Boot. That is why Ipswich have been tipped to target Vipotnik.

It underlines just how effective he has been in front of goal but there may be some question marks surrounding his leading of the line. That said, for a side like Ipswich looking to solidify themselves as genuine promotion contenders, that sort of output is understandably appealing.

Goals win games, and Vipotnik has made a habit of providing them at a relentless rate after having a settling-in-period in English football before 2025/26. His movement inside the box, combined with a clinical edge, would undoubtedly elevate Ipswich’s attacking threat.

Ipswich Town should avoid signing Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik

Vipotnik's level has now been proven to be above Championship level. However, this is where the conversation needs to shift slightly.

While Ipswich would be adding a striker in form, they must also consider what is likely to come next for Vipotnik.

Promotion is the current objective, where the Swansea forward would add plenty to the current side; but survival is the challenge that follows, which is where recent examples should not be ignored. Take Leeds United as a case study, for example.

Their 2024/25 title-winning campaign was built on goals, with Joel Piroe finishing as the division’s top scorer in a team which scored 24 more than anyone else. Much like Vipotnik now, Piroe was seen as a reliable and high-output forward capable of firing a side to promotion.

But to success beyond it? That's another question. The step up to the Premier League has told a very different story so far, with no league goals for the Dutchman and just one in the FA Cup against Championship side Norwich City. Piroe has struggled to impose himself at that level, with his limitations becoming more apparent against more physical opposition.

While his finishing instincts remain, his overall profile has not translated effectively. He is not a natural focal point, nor someone who consistently occupies defenders or brings others into play under pressure. In short, the qualities that made him elite in the Championship have not been enough in the top flight.

And that is the warning sign Ipswich must take seriously. Because Vipotnik, for all his strengths, carries a similar profile. He thrives on service, operates best within the box, and is not necessarily the kind of striker who can lead the line in isolation against Premier League-calibre defenders.

You could argue he needs to have a go at the level to say truly whether he can't, but it doesn't look likely to be the case. For Leeds with Piroe, to their credit, they recognised that quickly. Their solution came in the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, signed on a free transfer.

It was a move that raised eyebrows initially, largely due to his injury record and that he has rarely scored freely outside of 2019-2021, but it has proven to be a calculated gamble worth taking.

Why Ipswich Town have to change approach in the Premier League

Calvert-Lewin offers something entirely different. He is a physical presence, a genuine target man, and someone capable of occupying centre-backs. He wins aerial duels and brings teammates into play. Crucially, he also has years of Premier League experience, meaning the transition has not fazed him in the same way it has others.

That profile — more than pure Championship output — is what has allowed Leeds to find success at a higher level. They are set to, alongside Sunderland, remain in the Premier League and stop the cycle of promoted clubs automatically being relegated once again.

Ipswich did not make top flight football stick last time, which highlights their need to change approach. An experienced striker of the right profile is exactly the kind of thinking Ipswich must adopt. If Kieran McKenna is to guide his side into the Premier League, recruitment cannot simply be about who is performing now, but who can perform next.

Vipotnik may well have helped fire Ipswich to promotion much more easily if signed in January or last summer, but there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that he may not be the answer once they get there. Instead, Ipswich should be targeting a more rounded striker.

That means someone with physicality, experience, and the ability to operate as a focal point — effectively an upgrade on the type of player George Hirst is, as he offers some of those traits but perhaps not at the level required for the top flight.

This is not to say Vipotnik would be a poor signing. Far from it. But if Ipswich are serious about building something sustainable, they must look beyond the Golden Boot charts. Leeds have already provided the blueprint for them to follow.