Ipswich Town and Coventry City in transfer battle for international defender | OneFootball

According to reports, Ipswich Town and Coventry City are both in the race to sign Maccabi Tel Aviv defender Tyrese Asante

Ipswich Town and Coventry City are both in the running to sign Maccabi Tel Aviv's Tyrese Asante, who has been linked to a host of Championship clubs in recent months.

As reported by TEAMtalk on Monday evening, the highly-rated central defender has garnered interest from the two second-tier promotion hopefuls heading into the closing stages of the summer transfer window, with both sides intent on bolstering their backlines.

Ipswich have been busy in the transfer market as of late in a bid to return to the Premier League at the first attempt under Kieran McKenna, having brought in the likes of Chuba Akpom, Jens Cajuste, Cedric Kipre and Azor Matusiwa. They have, however, sanctioned sales, too, with both Nathan Broadhead and Omari Hutchinson moving out of Portman Road to join Wrexham and Nottingham Forest respectively.

Coventry, meanwhile, have endured a quieter summer and Frank Lampard has made only three additions to date by bringing in Miguel Angel Brau, Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Carl Rushworth.

Ipswich Town and Coventry City in transfer battle for Maccabi Tel Aviv's Tyrese Asante

As per the latest update from TEAMtalk, the two sides both hold an interest in acquiring Asante's services.

It's said that Ipswich and Coventry are just two of the clubs "in the race" for the 21-year-old, who was linked to the Sky Blues alongside Aberdeen, Cardiff City and Hull earlier this year.

According to the report, it's the Tractor Boys who have been the "most active" in recent weeks, having explored the possibility of bringing 23-year-old Asante to Portman Road. However, Coventry have reportedly made enquiries to gain "fresh information" about his situation, with the defender under contract until 2027 - and there is an extension option for a further year, too.

Asante, who can operate in both central defence and at right-back, made his name in the Dutch second-tier with Ado Den Haag before joining Maccabi Tel Aviv last summer.

The two-cap Dutch under-21 international has made 45 appearances to date out in Israel, including eight in last term's UEFA Europa League campaign.

Ipswich Town and Coventry City's next fixtures amid Tyrese Asante transfer battle

Ipswich will be looking to claim their first victory of the season away to Preston North End on Saturday afternoon, having played out three successive 1-1 draws with Birmingham City, Bromley in the EFL Cup - before being eliminated on penalties and most recently Southampton.

Following the trip to Deepdale, Ipswich will return to home soil for a clash at home to Derby County on August 30 ahead of the first international break of the new season.

It has been a mixed start to the season for Coventry, who remain undefeated after playing out a 0-0 draw at home to Hull City on the opening weekend before knocking Luton Town out of the EFL Cup and putting Derby to the sword in a thrilling 5-3 victory at Pride Park on Saturday afternoon.