Ipswich Town handed transfer "sacrifice" permit for £10k-a-week star | OneFootball

FLW's Ipswich Town fan pundit has been discussing the future of Tractor Boys striker Ali Al Hamadi.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Ipswich Town are gearing up to begin their Championship campaign, which will start with a trip to promoted side Birmingham City.

The Tractor Boys are still trying to replace Liam Delap, who joined Chelsea earlier in the summer for a reported fee of £30 million.

Ali Al-Hamadi is currently one of the strikers in Kieran McKenna’s ranks but has been linked with a Portman Road exit this transfer window, with Luton Town being credited with an interest.

If Ipswich do manage to recruit another centre-forward, it would render Al-Hamadi as their third-choice striker, with the 23-year-old behind George Hirst in the pecking order.

Ipswich Town issued Ali Al-Hamadi transfer stance

Football League World’s Ipswich Town fan pundit, Adam Wilkin, believes that Al-Hamadi’s future at the club depends upon the Tractor Boys’ ability to sign another forward.

“I think Ali Al-Hamadi is in a similar sort of position as he was in January last year,” stated Adam.

“In that he is important enough to be a member of the squad now, and will likely be around when the season starts, but could be one of the sacrifices we make with some late movement and some late business.

“He's currently sitting at second choice, but Ipswich Town are clearly targeting at least one more striker, and I don't think we will have the squad numbers to go into the season with three strikers, and it's a very hard sell being a third-choice striker.

“I think we do have players who could fill in there, Sammie Szmodics being one who's played as the No.9 for Blackburn Rovers before.

“So, I think if Town do get a new striker, which it looks like we will one way or the other, then Al-Hamadi will be the one to move on to make room in the squad for them.”

Ali Al-Hamadi may benefit from an Ipswich Town exit

Ipswich Town are expected to be one of the sides battling for promotion at the top of the Championship next term and will therefore need guaranteed goals in their frontline.

The Tractor Boys enjoy attacking forces such as Szmodics, Jack Clarke and Jaden Philogene, who would be able to provide a suitable striker with endless opportunities to tuck away.

McKenna doesn’t seem to consider Al-Hamadi as a serious option to lead his side’s line next term and if another striker is brought in, it’s hard to think of when the 23-year-old - who, as per Capology, is reportedly earning £10k-a-week at Portman Road - would feature for Ipswich next term.

Therefore, a move away from the Suffolk outfit might be the Iraqi’s best option to play regular football, who is contracted with the club until the summer of 2028.

It would allow Al-Hamadi to regain his confidence and get back to scoring goals, something he hasn’t experienced much in the last 18 months.