Ipswich Town told to reconsider Bristol City transfer raid - he isn't "an upgrade on Szmodics" | OneFootball

Ipswich Town are plotting a move for Bristol City attacking midfielder Anis Mehmeti.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Ipswich Town have eyed a move for Bristol City ace Anis Mehmeti, as the Tractor Boys vie for an immediate Premier League return.

Kieran McKenna's side beat the Robins 2-0 at Portman Road on Tuesday, thanks to Jack Clarke's brace, while Mehmeti featured for the visitors.

Thanks to their win over Gerhard Struber's men, Ipswich remain second in the Championship, eight points adrift of Coventry City with a game in hand on the league leaders.

Meanwhile, Bristol City's defeat in Suffolk moved them down to 11th place, but landing a play-off spot is still a realistic aspiration for the Robins.

Ipswich Town warned that Anis Mehmeti is not an upgrade on their current attacking options

Mehmeti has been a key figure for the Ashton Gate club in the Championship this season, notching eight goals and six assists in 28 second-tier appearances.

Amid the 25-year-old's positive performances for Bristol City, Ipswich are plotting a move for Mehmeti.

Football League World asked our Tractor Boys fan pundit, Adam Wilkin, if he liked the sound of the move, and if his club need the Robins man.

Wilkin told FLW: "Mehmeti is an interesting one because it may imply that Jaden Philogene is out for longer than we anticipated. I think it would be a good investment given his contract situation. He's only got six months on his deal at Bristol City.

"Whether he's an absolutely necessary signing, I don't think he improves the squad at all in that position. He could play in the number 10 role, but I don't think he is similar to the (Marcelino) Nunez style, and he's a slightly different player to (Sammie) Szmodics and (Chuba) Akpom.

"I'm not overly convinced that he'd be an upgrade on Szmodics, in particular, in that role either. Not one that really gets the heart racing, but I understand in a business sense if we could get him on a cut-price deal with his contract expiring."

Anis Mehmeti may not be the right option for Ipswich Town amid Premier League aspirations

Mehmeti has shown his class in the Championship and scored 12 goals in the second tier when Bristol City landed a play-off finish last season.

However, as outlined by Wilkin, Ipswich boast an array of talent both out wide and in the number 10 spot, which could mean that the Robins star would struggle for game time if he moved to Portman Road.

The Tractor Boys are even able to cope with an injury to a star player such as Philogene, thanks to the attacking class of former Sunderland ace Clarke.

Furthermore, McKenna's side will hope that they are planning for a Premier League season by the summer transfer window, and Mehmeti has never played in the top flight, having starred for Wycombe Wanderers in League One before joining the Robins in 2023.