Ipswich Town must target Burnley star who can fix Kieran McKenna’s main problems | OneFootball

Ipswich should target a move for Burnley's Zian Flemming this summer if promotion is secured

Ipswich Town still have the advantage when it comes to the automatic promotion race, with one game in hand on the surrounding teams and sitting in second place, level on points with Millwall as things stand.

The race for promotion is heating up in the Championship, as with Coventry City's place in the Premier League next season having been confirmed after their 1-1 draw away to Blackburn Rovers, there remains one spot in the top two still up for grabs.

One of Ipswich, Millwall, Southampton, or Middlesbrough will claim the final position in the automatic promotion places, but who will do so remains to be seen.

Ipswich currently occupies second, but with a game in hand on the other three teams beneath them, Kieran McKenna's side have the upper hand, as things stand.

It hasn't quite been the scintillating year many had expected from the Tractor Boys following their relegation from the Premier League, having struggled to deal with the losses of key players such as Sam Morsy, Nathan Broadhead, Omari Hutchinson, and, in particular, Liam Delap.

Delap was the focal point of McKenna's attack last season, with his goals in the top flight giving the Suffolk-based outfit a fighting chance of staying up, and following relegation, they have failed to replace him, as Ipswich should look to target a certain 27-year-old who has nearly hit double digits for goals in the Premier League this season on one condition.

Ipswich should target Burnley's Zian Flemming if promotion to the Premier League is secured

The centre-forward position has been a particular area of weakness for Ipswich this season, and that has been reflected in the statistics.

According to FotMob, only Southampton (80) have missed more big chances than Ipswich's 75 this season, whilst only Derby County's Patrick Agyemang (20) has missed more big chances than Ivan Azon and George Hirst, both tied on 18.

If Ipswich don't secure promotion, a lack of a clinical touch up front will be the crux of their failure, and regardless of what division they find themselves in next season, a new centre-forward must be high up on McKenna's shopping list.

Should promotion be secured, then Ipswich should look to target Burnley's Dutch striker Zian Flemming.

Flemming first made the move to England in the summer of 2022 with Millwall, and after 23 goals and eight assists in 92 games across all competitions for the Lions in two years, he'd join Burnley in the summer of 2024 on loan with an obligation to buy for £7 million, which was triggered last summer following the Clarets' promotion.

This season, Flemming hasn't been used as regularly as he should have been by Scott Parker, but since coming into the side in recent months, he has scored four goals in his last six league games, taking his total to nine for the campaign.

The 27-year-old, like Burnley, has struggled this season, and with the Lancashire-based side looking set to return to the second tier once again, Flemming may feel he has done enough to remain in the Premier League.

Ipswich will be looking for a striker this summer, and should they secure an immediate return to England's pinnacle division, Flemming ought to be high up on their shortlist for potential options.

McKenna has often preferred a physical presence up top, with each of Kieffer Moore, Liam Delap, and George Hirst used by the Northern Irishman, and Flemming fits the mould in that sense.

Having proven he knows where the back of the net is in both the second and first tier, the Dutchman would be an excellent option for Ipswich this summer, and McKenna should look to bring him to Suffolk this summer if a return to the Premier League is secured.

Kieran McKenna must be weighing up options for a new centre-forward at Ipswich this summer

Regardless of what division they will be playing in next season, Ipswich will almost certainly be targeting reinforcements up top this summer.

Hirst just hasn't been able to become the player McKenna can rely upon up top, whilst Azon is expected to return to Como at the end of the season following the completion of his loan.

No matter what, Ipswich cannot head into the next campaign with just Hirst up top, as McKenna will almost certainly be sounding out targets for the summer, and Flemming should be one of them.

Unlikely to break the bank, and entering the peak of his powers, the Dutchman now has a wealth of experience in English football, and with a year in the Premier League under his belt, he would take little time to adapt to life at Portman Road.

McKenna will be looking for a striker, and Flemming would fit the mould.