Ipswich Town to beat Birmingham City to midfielder agreement | OneFootball

Ipswich Town have beaten Birmingham City and AFC Bournemouth in the race for Stevenage midfielder Ryan Doherty

Ipswich Town have fended off competition from the likes of Birmingham City and Premier League side AFC Bournemouth for the signature of Stevenage midfield sensation Ryan Doherty this month.

Doherty has made just three league appearances for the Boro this season, yet is highly regarded as one of the best young midfielders in the EFL at the moment.

According to Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Doherty is closing in on signing for Ipswich before the end of the month, despite the dynamic midfielder garnering attention from numerous other sides across the English football pyramid.

The Tractor Boys view the capture of Doherty as a real coup for the club, having successfully fended off interest from elsewhere to bring him to Portman Road, where he will likely play in the youth side initially but remain in and around the first-team.

Ipswich Town have beaten Birmingham City and AFC Bournemouth in the race for Stevenage sensation Ryan Doherty

Indeed, it appears as though Ipswich have won the race for Stevenage's Doherty, with both Birmingham City and AFC Bournemouth having previously been credited with interest in the 17-year-old.

Doherty signed his first professional contract with Stevenage in August and has remained in and around the first-team squad this season, playing three third-tier matches thus far.

In total, Doherty has made just 11 first-team appearances for the Hertfordshire-based outfit, with his first league start for the club coming in a 1-0 home defeat to high-flying Cardiff, where he didn't look out of place.

A fee has not yet been disclosed as to what Ipswich will pay to bring him to Suffolk, though Stevenage will likely have inserted a healthy sell-on clause should he go on to fulfil his undoubted potential.

Doherty will link up with Kieran McKenna's side within the next few days as he chooses Ipswich as the next step of his career, with the Tractor Boys getting their noses in front of both Birmingham and Ipswich for his signature.

Ipswich Town and Kieran McKenna are looking for further additions after Ryan Doherty deal as the transfer window countdown beckons

Following the addition of Doherty, Ipswich don't look to be done just yet, with days of the window remaining.

Ipswich have already completed deals for both Anis Mehmeti and Dan Neil this month, with Doherty set to be their third addition.

McKenna appears to be eyeing another centre-forward to add to Ivan Azon, George Hirst, and Chuba Akpom up front, with the goalscoring burden falling on the pair of Jack Clarke and Jaden Philogene for much of this campaign.

Each of their current centre-forward options has failed to impress at Portman Road this campaign, leading to links to the likes of Leeds United's Joel Piroe and Nashville's Sam Surridge.

FLW exclusively reported that the Tractor Boys have joined bitter rivals Norwich City in the hunt for Bodo/Glimt striker Kasper Hogh before the end of this month.

If one more addition is made at Ipswich before the window slams shut at 7pm on February 2nd, it appears as though it will more than likely be a striker.