Ipswich Town launch move to sign 22-year-old striker | OneFootball

Ipswich have already tried and failed with the pursuit of one Spanish goalscorer this summer.

Ipswich Town are trying to hijack a deal for Como striker Ivan Azon, who is wanted by a big club from Spain.

Signing a striker is a must for Kieran McKenna this summer. The inevitable loss of Liam Delap was always going to create the need for additions up top.

They have set their sights on another young prospect, according to Fabrizio Romano, but, like some other moves they have tried to pull off this summer, it won't be plane sailing for the Tractor Boys.

Azon, a 22-year-old centre-forward who plays under Cesc Fabregas at Como, has caught the club's attention. They are now trying to oust Valencia, who have been working on a deal for Azon in recent days, but they are yet to come to an agreement with their Italian counterparts. Subsequently, Ipswich have made an approach to Como, as per Romano.

Ipswich attempting to hijack Valencia's Ivan Azon deal

They are offering a loan-to-buy deal to Fabregas' side, with a "heavy loan fee" and an obligation to sign the striker permanently next summer if they win promotion to the Premier League. It'd also include a buy option if Town didn't go up, all in an attempt to trump Valencia's offer of a straight temporary spell with no direct purchase possibilities.

Azon only joined Como in February in a deal worth just over £2 million from Real Zaragoza. He had scored seven goals in 24 appearances for the LaLiga 2 outfit prior to his switch to the Italian side.

Having signed a four-and-a-half-year deal upon his arrival, injuries have so far prevented him from making a first-team appearance under Fabregas, and that wait for a first proper outing in a Como shirt is likely to go on, given the interest in him from the East Anglian side and Valencia.

Ipswich have a clear striker recruitment plan this summer

Ipswich have made moves for a couple of young attackers already in the window. Divin Mubama was linked with a move to Portman Road by the Italian journalist. The Manchester City player ended up going to Stoke City on loan.

McKenna's side also looked to bring in Marc Guiu - another Spaniard - in on loan from Chelsea, but he is set to join Sunderland. Guiu, according to The Guardian, wasn't sold on joining the Tractor Boys from the start.

The goalscoring cupboard isn't completely bare at Portman Road. Ipswich's Northern Irish boss will have both George Hirst and Ali Al-Hamadi to choose from before their first match of the new campaign, away at Birmingham City, should no other option be brought in before then.