Ipswich Town backed to sign ex-Leeds United ace - he can be 'an upgrade on Jack Taylor' | OneFootball

The Tractor Boys have been linked with a potential January move for former Whites man Glen Kamara

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 have been linked with a potential January move for former Leeds United midfielder Glen Kamara, and there is belief that the Finland international would provide “excellent depth” to Kieran McKenna’s squad.

The Suffolk outfit are one of several clubs reportedly monitoring Kamara's situation at Rennes, according to French outlet Foot Mercato, where the 29-year-old has endured a nightmare spell since his £8.4m move from Leeds one year ago.

As for a nightmare, well, Kamara has remarkably failed to register a single minute of Ligue 1 football this season, appearing in only two matchday squads out of seven under manager Habib Beye.

Still, with the Tractor Boys currently sitting ninth in the Championship table with one game in hand, strengthening their back-up midfield options could prove crucial as they look to bounce straight back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

Former Leeds United man Glen Kamara labelled as "excellent depth" for Ipswich Town

When asked about the potential signing, FLW's Ipswich Town Fan Pundit, Adam Wilkin, was enthusiastic about what Kamara could offer McKenna's side.

"I think Glen Kamara would definitely represent an excellent depth option in centre midfield," he explained to FLW. In the aforementioned Foot Mercato report, Rennes are apparently wanting just €3m for the former Rangers star.

"I think that’s exactly what he did when he came in to help get Leeds over the line - or try and get Leeds over the line - I can’t remember whether he was with them in the promotion season or whether he’d moved on by then," Wilkin added.

Kamara joined Leeds in the summer of 2023 and made 40 league appearances during the subsequent Championship campaign, completing 92.9% of his passes and winning 58% of his duels.

The Whites fell short in the play-off final against Southampton, and Kamara signed for Rennes after that, but he did play a part in getting them to that stage.

However, after making just 13 appearances and providing one assist in the second half of last season, Kamara was loaned out to Saudi Arabian side Al Shabab in January - so it looks likely he could be on his way out this winter window as well.

Wilkin was keen to highlight how Kamara would strengthen Town's midfield rotation. "But, he provided a little bit of extra depth, and I’d say he’s probably an upgrade on Jack Taylor in terms of the fourth-choice midfielder there," he continued.

Taylor, of course, recently signed a new three-year contract with Ipswich until the summer of 2028, having made 80 appearances for the club since joining from Peterborough United in 2023.

Yet the 27-year-old Republic of Ireland international has primarily been used as a substitute, starting just 23 of those 80 matches and coming off the bench in 55 of his 69 league appearances.

Glen Kamara would have to be happy as a back-up choice at Ipswich Town

The Fan Pundit was more measured when assessing Kamara's long-term prospects at the club.

"Whether he's a long-term signing that you'd think would cut in the Premier League, given his history and given that he's 29, I'm not sure about that, but I think he would provide more cover to Azor Matusiwa and be more of that kind of a player," Wilkin said.

Matusiwa has started all eight of Town's league matches so far this season - forming an effective partnership with former Reims teammate Jens Cajuste in the heart of McKenna's midfield.

Wilkin explained, "Whereas Marcelino Nunez is there to cover the left side of Cajuste, now it seems clear. So, yeah we are in trouble if Matusiwa does get injured, so it does make sense why we're looking at him."

The thing is, Kamara's fall from grace at Rennes has been dramatic considering his impressive pedigree in British football.

He spent five successful seasons at Rangers between 2019 and 2023. During his time at Ibrox, Kamara won the Scottish Premiership title in 20/21 and was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year the same season - all before earning recognition as Finnish Footballer of the Year in 2022.​

Even considering his experienced past, Wilkin concluded with a realistic assessment of the potential deal, "If he’d want to come and play back-up then I'd be more than happy with that."

In truth, whether Rennes would be willing to sanction a loan move or would insist on a permanent transfer remains to be seen. But the French club's willingness to accept just €3 million for a player they paid €10 million for fifteen months ago indicates their desperation to get rid.