Ipswich Town should sign 12-goal German to fix Kieran McKenna problem | OneFootball

Ipswich Town should join Belgian side Anderlecht in the pursuit of Greuther Furth striker Noel Futkeu

Despite a 2-0 loss away to Portsmouth last time out, Ipswich Town remain in pole position to claim the second automatic spot heading into the final phase of the Championship season.

It hasn't quite been the season many had expected of Ipswich Town, with the Tractor Boys' hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League looking in doubt for the majority of the campaign.

Despite this, with five games to go, one more than the teams surrounding them, Ipswich sit two points clear of Millwall in third, and if they win that game in hand, they could extend the gap to five points.

They have little chance of catching Coventry City at the summit now, who need just one point to secure their own promotion, and a couple more victories to get their hands on the Championship title.

Jack Clarke is Ipswich's top scorer this season, with 14 goals as things stand, as the centre-forward role has been a position of difficulty for head coach Kieran McKenna this year ever since the departure of Liam Delap this summer.

In any instance, McKenna will likely be targeting a new striker for the next campaign, and should join Anderlecht in the pursuit of a 12-goal German hotshot.

Ipswich should join Anderlecht in the race for Greuther Furth's Noel Futkeu

A prolific centre-forward has been something that has been sorely lacking at Portman Road this season, and is a large reason why Ipswich have not been at their scintillating best this time around.

Indeed, when they were promoted to the Premier League in 2024, a prolific striker was not present then, with the likes of Conor Chaplin, Nathan Broadhead, and Omari Hutchinson all chipping in with double-digit hauls to help them on their way to the top-flight.

Liam Delap was the central figure in most attacks during their only year in the top flight, but following his departure to Chelsea, that focal point hasn't been adequately replaced.

George Hirst and Ivan Azon have shared minutes up top, but neither has been prolific enough to help Ipswich soar up the table, and with Azon set to return to Como following the end of his loan spell, it leaves just Hirst as the only recognised striker at the club heading into next year.

One or two more bodies up top will be imperative for McKenna this summer, as Ipswich should join Belgian giants Anderlecht in the race for German forward Noel Futkeu.

At just 23, Futkeu has been prolific wherever he has played in his short professional career, and now, in his second year in the 2nd Bundesliga with Greuther Furth, he has hit double digits for goals once again, with 12 so far this season, and 11 last year.

Futkeu has shown his ability to pull off an array of different finishes during his time with Furth, with his nous of being in the right place at the right time, something that cannot be easily taught.

Anderlecht's interest is a clear indication of just how highly rated he is, and Ipswich should join the chase for his signature this summer to provide McKenna with a different option up top.

Whether he is capable of making the step-up to the Premier League at this stage remains to be seen, though with his proven track record of consistently finding the back of the net and unlikely to break the bank, it could be a gamble worth taking for Ipswich.

Kieran McKenna must target another striker or two at Ipswich Town this summer, with Futkeu being a potential option

Regardless of what division they will be playing their football in next season, a new striker or two is imperative for Ipswich heading into the new year.

Doubts surrounding Hirst's long-term suitability up top persist, and should they be promoted, he almost certainly won't be McKenna's first choice in the Premier League.

It would be unlikely in any circumstance that Fukeu would instead be his number one choice up top, but with little downside to getting this deal done, he could be a savvy alternative for the Tractor Boys.