11 Ipswich Town players tipped for potential Portman Road exits | OneFootball

FLW's Ipswich fan pundit has named the players that could depart the club this summer

Ipswich Town are in contention for promotion straight back to the Premier League this season.

The Tractor Boys managed just one year in the top flight when they earned a long-awaited promotion in 2024 under Kieran McKenna.

The Northern Irishman oversaw back-to-back promotions, ending a 22-year absence from the first division.

But a 19th place finish meant that the Suffolk outfit were sent straight back down in 2025, with the club’s sights set on ensuring it’s not another 22-year wait before they return again.

However, Ipswich face stiff competition for an automatic promotion place, with Middlesbrough and Millwall also firmly in the mix behind league leaders Coventry City.

It makes planning for the upcoming transfer window this summer quite tricky, but there are still some moves the recruitment staff can be preparing for even with the uncertainty of their league status.

Ipswich tipped for an exodus of players this summer

When asked what players could depart Portman Road this summer, FLW’s Ipswich fan pundit Adam Wilkin claimed that it could be as few as five or as many as 11 depending on which division the club competes in next season.

He cited the players currently out on loan as a part of the group likely to leave at the end of the season, including Chiedozie Ogbene, Conor Chaplin and Harry Clarke, while also mentioning Jack Taylor and Kasey McAteer as possibilities as well.

“I think it’ll depend on what division we’re in as to who will leave,” Wilkin told Football League World.

“The players that are on loan, Ogbene, Conor Chaplin, Harry Clarke, I can’t see how they’ve got a future regardless of the division we’re in.

“I think Ben Johnson probably doesn’t last if we get promoted again.

“Jack Taylor, although he’s been an ever-present this season, is probably an area you’d look to upgrade.

“Then, on the right-wing, Kasey McAteer hasn’t really set the world alight, would you be able to get money back for him?”

Wilkin brought up the goalkeeper situation, suggesting that Arijanet Muric will leave on a permanent basis this summer, and an upgrade on Alex Palmer may still be needed as well, which could lead to further exits.

“The goalkeeping situation, we’re still technically overloaded with goalkeepers, expect Muric to move on after this season,” he added.

“But then I feel you want to upgrade the goalkeeping department again, Alex Palmer did okay the last time he was in the Premier League, but you’ll probably be looking for an upgrade there.

“The rest are kind of relatively new signings anyway, but I think there could be at least five or six people leaving regardless of the division.

“If we go up, that could be as high as 10 or 11.”

McAteer signed for Ipswich last summer from Leicester City in a deal worth a reported £14 million.

However, he has struggled for form at Portman Road and he’s been in and out of the team, further down the pecking order than he would’ve hoped for when he arrived.

But Taylor has been a more consistent presence in the team, contributing to the team’s push for promotion to the Premier League.

McAteer has a contract with Ipswich until the summer of 2029, meaning he still has three years left with the club, while Taylor’s deal will expire in June 2028.

But promotion to the Premier League could have a big impact on McKenna’s plans for the squad, and it could lead to quite a busy summer when the transfer window opens.

Ipswich will need to strengthen this summer if promoted

A number of players could be on the chopping block at Ipswich this summer if the club win promotion.

McKenna will want a squad of players all capable of contributing in the Premier League, and players like Taylor and McAteer could fall by the wayside as a result.

Not everyone can make the jump up from the Championship, and this is what the manager and his recruitment staff will have to weigh up.

Of course, if Ipswich miss out on a place in the top flight then that will change plans, and it could mean a quieter window this summer as a result.