Ipswich Town eye Huddersfield Town transfer - Derby & Portsmouth should gazump them | OneFootball

Joe Taylor's impressive form whilst on loan with Wigan hasn't gone unnoticed, with Ipswich keen, but which other clubs should eye a move for him?

Huddersfield Town are set for an intriguing summer transfer window ahead, although potential incomings and departures could hinge on which division they're playing in next season.

Liam Manning's side have struggled in the race for the play-off positions since the turn of the New Year, and they'll know that they face an almighty battle to force themselves back into the top six before this year's League One campaign reaches a conclusion.

One player that hasn't featured for Huddersfield in the second-half of the season is Joe Taylor, who has spent the last four months on loan with fellow League One side, Wigan Athletic.

Taylor has been in hugely impressive form for the Latics, scoring nine goals in 15 appearances for Gary Caldwell's side, who have picked up much-needed points thanks to Taylor's goalscoring exploits.

A number of clubs are rumoured to be interested in a deal to sign the Huddersfield Town forward, with Ipswich Town and Stoke City being the latest teams to enter the race to sign Taylor.

That update comes after Football League World exclusively revealed that Preston North End and Oxford United were keen on striking an agreement with the Terriers ahead of the summer transfer window.

Taylor is contracted with Huddersfield until the summer of 2029, and it remains to be seen whether they'll be able to keep hold of the striker, who many would argue, deserves a move up to the Championship in the near future.

Here at Football League World, we'll look into two clubs that could potentially benefit from signing Taylor in the summer transfer window.

Derby County

Derby County's push for a top six finish in the second tier of English football has been somewhat surprising, but certainly pleasing for the Rams fanbase.

They've caught the eye for all the right reasons this season, and they're more than capable of forcing themselves into the play-offs before this year's league campaign reaches a conclusion.

The performances of Patrick Agyemang have been one of the main reasons as to why Derby are with a chance of achieving promotion into the Premier League, with the American international scoring ten goals in his 36 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Agyemang has been attracting interest from other clubs already though, and he could potentially be on the move before the 2026/27 league campaign gets underway.

Leeds United and Crystal Palace are just some of the clubs that are reportedly keen on striking a deal to sign Agyemang, who many will feel is capable of playing at a higher level than the Championship.

If the American was to depart, then Derby would almost certainly be in the market to find a suitable replacement for him, and Joe Taylor is someone that is more than capable of filling the void.

He's shown his eye for goal with Wigan, and also has experience of playing in the Championship whilst with Luton Town earlier in his career. If Taylor can continue to score goals regularly whilst with Wigan in his loan spell, then he'll continue to attract interest from other clubs higher up the football pyramid.

Portsmouth's slide down the Championship has been alarming to say the least, and they could find it tough to fight off the likes of West Brom and Leicester City in the battle to avoid the drop into League One.

Consistent goals have been the main problem for Pompey this season, with many of the Fratton Park faithful voicing their concerns on the lack of attacking options within their squad.

The club's top goalscorer is Adrian Segecic, who has six league goals to his name, whilst the closest striker to the midfielder in the top goalscorer list is Colby Bishop, who has just two goals in this year's Championship campaign, which is a worrying statistic, as it shows where Portsmouth's main problem lies.

If Portsmouth are to be relegated back into League One this term, then they'll need a proven goalscorer in League One to fire them back into the second tier at the first time of asking.

Taylor fits that description perfectly, having shown his quality with Wigan in the second-half of the 2025/26 season. He's playing some of his best football right now, and a player with his confidence levels will be a threat to any defender in League One.

He's able to get in behind opposition central defenders, and with a pressing style of play, he's uncomfortable to play against when in possession of the ball.

The likes of John Swift and Josh Murphy would benefit from having a player of Taylor's quality playing in front of them, as the pair have already shown their creative flair in a struggling Portsmouth team this season.

Taylor would be a shrewd addition for Pompey, and it's a deal that they should be exploring, regardless of which division they're playing in next season.