Derby County want ex-Ipswich Town star: Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic must try hijack deal | OneFootball

Conor Chaplin will be in high demand this summer, and Portsmouth and Charlton should be looking to outmuscle Derby for his services

Conor Chaplin is set to be a wanted man this summer, as he calls time on his Ipswich Town career following five years at the club.

The 29-year-old was confirmed to be leaving Portman Road when his contract runs out at the end of the season, marking the end for one of the final remaining heroes from Ipswich's impressive back-to-back promotion seasons a few years ago.

He played a massive part in those consecutive second-placed finishes, even winning the Golden Boot in League One with 26 goals. A further 13 in the Championship saw him deemed worthy enough to remain with Kieran McKenna's side in the Premier League, when others were loaned out.

But, after an underwhelming loan spell at Portsmouth upon his return to the Championship, Chaplin's set to leave, and, understandably, he already has suitors.

Indeed, FLW exclusively revealed on Thursday afternoon that Derby County are eyeing a move for Chaplin on a free transfer, as John Eustace looks to bolster his attacking midfield options ahead of a promotion push next year.

However, after failing to impress last year, it's hard to see where regular game time would come for the 29-year-old at Pride Park, and some may claim that Derby's interest is seemingly to help add depth.

If Chaplin wants regular starts in the Championship next season, these two sides should try to hijack the Rams' deal and offer him just that.

Portsmouth

Chaplin's time at Portsmouth this past season didn't go exactly to plan. Many were hoping that the 29-year-old could rediscover his scoring touch at the club he came through the academy at, but he struggled to make an impact, netting just twice in 37 games upon his return.

However, last season was a bit of an odd one in an attacking sense at Fratton Park. It wasn't just Chaplin who was misfiring; talisman Colby Bishop only managed three league goals, and Josh Murphy didn't score at all in his injury-plagued campaign.

It's been a whirlwind few years for Chaplin, as he had to adjust to life in the Premier League, and then the one thing that the 29-year-old didn't have at Portsmouth this past year was a full pre-season, as he moved on Deadline Day in September.

Perhaps that could be a valid reason as to why last term wasn't as prolific as many hoped, and with a full one under his bag, the attacking midfielder could once again come up good at Fratton Park.

The 29-year-old still has a lot of good standing with the Pompey fans, given his deep-rooted connections with the club, so a poor return may not have soured them on the idea, and Chaplin himself may feel he has some unfinished business after a disappointing initial return.

Charlton Athletic

Another side that should be open to signing Chaplin and trusting him to return to goalscoring form is Charlton Athletic, who scored the third-fewest goals in the Championship throughout the campaign.

The Addicks banked on League One talent last summer to make the step-up into the second tier, and, unfortunately, the majority of them didn't transition as quickly as the club would have hoped.

The likes of Harvey Knibbs and Charlie Kelman have struggled, and both Tanto Olaofe and Rob Apter found themselves back on loan in the third tier in January.

In Chaplin, Nathan Jones will know exactly what he will get, which is an energetic attacking midfielder who can play off the striker and be a goal threat, if he can rediscover that form from his time at Portman Road in the EFL.

With the Welshhman operating either with a couple of attacking midfielders or two strikers this season in a couple of different systems, the 29-year-old will fit the bill both as one of those midfielders or someone who can pick up the scraps from Lyndon Dykes' aerial presence as a second striker.

As mentioned before, both teams will be taking a slight risk in signing him, but they'd be able to offer him regular starts, while sides further up the table likely wouldn't.

If he can replicate a double-digit scoring campaign, the risk would definitely be worth the reward.