Jack Wilshere to seal Luton Town transfer with Ipswich Town before 11pm | OneFootball

Ipswich Town winger Tudor Mendel is heading to Kenilworth Road

Luton Town are on the verge of wrapping up a deal for Ipswich Town attacker Tudor Mendel before Tuesday's 11pm transfer deadline.

The Hatters have had a mixed start to their 2026-27 League One campaign, with the main concern being the goals that are being leaked on a regular basis by their defence.

Jack Wilshere's side have already shipped 10 goals in just three matches, with a humbling weekend defeat at Mansfield Town leaving question marks over their back-line options.

However, whilst the door isn't closed on some defensive additions, Luton are poised to make an addition further up the pitch.

Luton Town set to seal Ipswich Town loan deal

According to Ipswich reporter Stuart Watson, via Kings Of Anglia, Luton are wrapping up a deal to take attacking prospect Tudor Mendel to Kenilworth Road on a loan deal for the rest of the season.

The 21-year-old is primarily a left-footed right-winger, which is a spot currently occupied by Jake Richards in the starting 11, but Mendel is seeking some first-team experience after outgrowing the Tractor Boys' under-21's.

A Chelsea academy graduate, Mendel left Stamford Bridge and jumped ship to Belgian outfit Anderlecht in 2023, although he lasted just a year playing for their reserve outfit in the second tier of their league system before signing for Ipswich.

Mendel was a big hit in the Premier League 2 competition for Ipswich's under-21's, scoring seven times and notching a further six assists in 16 appearances, but he was nowhere near breaking into Kieran McKenna's first-team squad.

He's now set to gain some valuable EFL experience though at a League One promotion contender in the form of Luton, providing the paperwork is all signed off on before the deadline.

Tudor Mendel deal fills a necessary gap for Luton Town

Despite the emergence of youngster Jake Richards after his 2025 move from Exeter City, where he now fills the right-wing position despite being a central midfielder before that, extra cover for that position became vital when Shayden Morris recently went down with a hamstring injury.

Morris will likely be out for some time, and with Isaiah Jones currently a right-back under Wilshere, the need to strengthen further forward was evident.

No fewer than eight new faces have arrived at Kenilworth Road this summer, with Man United midfielder Dan Gore the latest on a loan deal, and if they can also strike a deal for Barnsley's Luca Connell, then focus can be switched to other areas of the pitch for strengthening.