Ipswich Town urged to consider Liverpool player as key transfer demand made | OneFootball

FLW's Ipswich Town Fan Pundit believes that one position must be a top priority before the summer window closes

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…

Squad depth in the central areas of the pitch at Ipswich Town is an increasing concern for the Tractor Boys - amid club captain Sam Morsy reportedly being in advanced talks over a free transfer to Kuwait SC.

Azor Matisuwa's arrival from Rennes for a reported undisclosed fee is a step in the right direction, with the 27-year-old logging 29 Ligue 1 outings last season.

With Jens Cajuste and Kalvin Phillips both going back to their parent clubs after spending the previous season on loan at Ipswich, it's hard to argue that they need more bodies in that area - regardless if/and when Morsy leaves and follows Massimo Luongo out of the exit door.

Ipswich Town need to eye new midfield options

FLW's Ipswich Town Fan Pundit, Adam Wilkin, believes that signing a new central midfielder must be a top priority before the summer window closes.

"We need to get another midfielder in. We’ve strengthened with Matusiwa but with Sam Morsy potentially out the door we’re still quite light in that area, we’ve been linked to all sorts," Wilkin told FLW.

"We’ve been linked to Hayden Hackney, Marcel Ruiz, but yeah - just getting one of those through the door. I quite like Tyler Morton at Liverpool - he didn’t play much last season but the season before he was very good for Hull City, and our midfield definitely needs strengthening," he added.

Talks with Toluca's Marcel Ruiz would have been exciting news in Suffolk, but the 24-year-old has apparently turned down a move to Portman Road - with their manager, Antonio Mohamed, saying Ruiz "wants to go to an important club."

Attention now turns to Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney, a player reportedly admired by Kieran McKenna and he could be viewed as an ideal addition alongside Matusiwa.

According to TWTD, Town have made an approach for the England U21 international, though prising him away from Boro could prove a challenge.

Ipswich Town could go back to the loan market for a midfielder

Wilkin has mentioned the possibility of Town going into the loan market once again, mentioning a young Chelsea prospect as a suggestive target - whilst also reiterating the type of midfielder Town require.

"A bit of physicality, I don’t know if there’s any free agents to pick up there or maybe we’re waiting on a bit more cash flow to make a bid for Hackney, or I'm sure there’s some Premier League loans out there," Wilkin continued.

Boro are reportedly reluctant to let Hackney go for anything less than north of £20m, which is likely to be a lot more than Town are willing to spend - but they could definitely have those sorts of funds available.

"Dario Essugo had a good spell on loan in Spain last season, whether Chelsea will let him out on loan or one of the others, but yeah, that midfield unit is definitely something that needs strengthening," he concluded.

Removing Morsy's leadership without a like-for-like replacement does risk Matusiwa being isolated and forcing creative players like Jack Clarke or Sammie Szmodics to do more of the dirty work.

One youngster Wilkin mentioned, Morton, made 39 second-tier appearances in the 23/24 season for Hull and managed eight goal contributions (three goals and five assists) - but at 5'9" he's not exactly the physical type.

Brentford have reportedly seen a £35m bid for Omari Hutchinson rejected, and that money that could've perhaps been reinvested in a midfield partner for Matisuwa - something which could prospectively still happen if the Bees bid higher.

Ultimately, Wilkin's call underlines a slight concern among Town's fanbase that the club must not risk being left short in midfield. With more than a month remaining in the window, the Tractor Boys' recruitment team will surely have to get this Morsy situation right if they want to go back up to the Premier League at the first attempt.