Big Tom Cairney, Ipswich Town transfer update emerges - these 2 players may not like it | OneFootball

Ipswich Town have been linked with a surprise move for Tom Cairney, and his arrival would impact Jack Taylor and Sammie Szmodics at Portman Road.

Ipswich Town have started to find their form as they look to win promotion straight back to the Premier League.

Despite their impressive recent run, boss Kieran McKenna will be well aware of just how important the January window is in the race to go up, and whilst the Tractor Boys don’t require a major overhaul, it’s clear they want to do business.

So, the Town boss will be searching for the one or two players he needs to strengthen the group, and it has been claimed that Fulham’s Tom Cairney is on their radar.

The 34-year-old needs no introduction to Championship fans, as Cairney has starred at this level in the past with Hull, Blackburn and the Cottagers, which includes winning two promotions with the Londoners.

Therefore, it’s easy to see why Ipswich are keen on Cairney, who is out of contract with Fulham in the summer and could find more regular game-time at Portman Road than he has done in west London.

It remains to be seen how feasible a transfer is this month, with the Scotland international having started the previous two games for Marco Silva’s men as they picked up four points from games against Liverpool and Chelsea.

Cairney may take some convincing, but it would be a coup for Ipswich if they could bring the experienced midfielder to Suffolk. Bringing him in would have a knock-on effect, and here we look at TWO players who may not welcome Cairney’s arrival at Portman Road…

Jack Taylor

Republic of Ireland international Jack Taylor has featured regularly for Ipswich this season, so it’s not like he would no longer be in the picture if Cairney did join.

Nevertheless, with Jens Cajuste and Azor Matusiwa at the club, McKenna already has good options in the middle of the park, so Cairney would push Taylor further down the pecking order if he were to arrive.

Realistically, Cairney would expect to play regularly at Ipswich if he was to join, so Taylor would find it very tough to get in the starting XI, with any game time likely to come from the bench, which is not what he wants in a World Cup year.

Even though he recently signed a contract extension, it’s far from ideal for the 27-year-old, who would no doubt be assessing his options, either in January or in the summer window.

Sammie Szmodics

Cairney has generally played in a deeper role for Fulham, but he could occupy a more advanced midfield position for Ipswich, an area in which he has shown his quality in previously.

Marcelino Nunez is currently doing well in that particular position on the pitch, but Cairney’s eye for a pass and vision would make him a real asset in the final third if McKenna wanted to give him more license going forward.

If that was to happen, it’s hard to see where Szmodics would fit in, as he looks to bounce back from what has been a difficult season so far.

The ex-Blackburn man has been excellent in the Championship over the years, but he has struggled since his move to Portman Road (whilst also often playing out on the left last season in the Premier League when he did get minutes), and his current campaign has been impacted by injuries.

When he does return to fitness, Szmodics will want to play, particularly as a potential World Cup is looming with the Republic of Ireland, but Cairney would be another obstacle preventing him from getting the regular game time he will be looking for.