Ipswich Town backed to sign ex-Burnley star but 'mild concern' raised | OneFootball

Ipswich Town are interested in signing former Burnley defender CJ Egan-Riley, currently of Marseille

Ipswich Town are putting plans in place to bolster their squad in the summer transfer window, having successfully sealed an immediate Premier League return.

The Tractor Boys have already landed a move for defender Cedric Kipre, whose loan stint at Portman Road became permanent following the Suffolk side's promotion.

Kieran McKenna's side learned how tough the Premier League is during the 2024/25 season, when they were relegated alongside Southampton and Leicester City.

Ipswich will want to avoid that fate this time around and should consequently enjoy a busy summer transfer window to ready their ranks for the challenge posed by the top flight.

Ipswich Town told to sign Marseille star despite injury track record

Ipswich proved their class when they defeated Queens Park Rangers 3-0 on the final day of the Championship season to seal automatic promotion.

However, the Tractor Boys are aware of how hard they will have to work in the summer window to ensure that they are competitive in the Premier League.

According to French outlet Foot Sur 7, Southampton and Ipswich are both keen on Marseille defender CJ Egan-Riley, who previously played for Burnley.

Egan-Riley made 41 Championship appearances as the Clarets won promotion from the second tier at the end of the 2024/25 season, but traded Lancashire for the south of France last summer.

Football League World asked our Ipswich fan pundit, Adam Wilkin, what his thoughts on these developments were, and if the 23-year-old is a potential top signing for the Tractor Boys.

Wilkin told FLW: "I think it's really interesting that one of our first links as a Premier League club is to a centre-half. I think we saw the last time we were in the Premier League, McKenna did opt to switch to a back three or a back five against some of the bigger teams.

"I think Egan-Riley clearly had a promising season with Burnley in the Championship last time that they were there, and then moved on rather than staying with the club in the Premier League.

"He's not had much football in Ligue 1 this year, and injury issues would be a mild concern. But at 23, he's clearly got a bright future ahead, and he's operated in both a back four and back five throughout his career, so would be a versatile option in that aspect.

"We've dipped into the French market before, with Azor Matusiwa last year. I think it would be a solid signing to compete with Dara O'Shea, Jacob Greaves, and Cedric Kipre."

Kieran McKenna is right to be prioritising his defence ahead of Premier League return

As Wilkin alluded to, Egan-Riley has shown plenty of promise in his career so far, but the fact that he has made just 11 Ligue 1 appearances this term, amid injury problems, could be a concern.

However, Ipswich's interest in a talented defender ahead of the summer transfer window is a positive sign that they are going about their fight for Premier League survival in the right way.

Last time they were in the top flight, the Tractor Boys conceded a whopping 82 goals, and they must do better than that next season to avoid another immediate Championship return.

Prioritising the acquisition of another defender is a wise move from McKenna, as defence is arguably more important than attack for sides who are likely set for a relegation battle.

Daniel Farke's Leeds United have shown the merits of having a reasonably solid defence as a bottom-half Premier League outfit, earning 14 of their 44 points so far this term through draws.