{"id":1476976,"date":"2026-08-02T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1476976"},"modified":"2026-08-01T19:10:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T18:10:59","slug":"tactical-analysis-what-ipswich-town-are-lacking-to-boost-chances-premier-league","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/tactical-analysis-what-ipswich-town-are-lacking-to-boost-chances-premier-league\/","title":{"rendered":"What Ipswich are lacking to boost their chances of staying in the Premier League"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ipswich Town have addressed a few squad issues in the transfer market but could still do with a couple more signings.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tractor Boys are back in the Premier League and will now look to give themselves a better chance than in 2024\/25. Back then, Kieran McKenna had led them to back-to-back promotions from League One to the top flight, which ended up being too much for their squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After leading the team back to the elite, McKenna stepped down after four and a half years at Portman Road, leaving a huge gap for the board to fill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was, in fact, their first mission in the transfer market. They named Gary O’Neil as his replacement, following a brief stint at Strasbourg that featured a great start but faded as the second half of the season went on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Another position of need was goalkeeper. Christian Walton held his own as a starter in the Championship after years of serving as back-up. But Ipswich<\/a> knew they needed more and signed two other shot-stoppers this summer: Dutch duo Kayne van Oevelen and Kjell Scherpen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tractor Boys also had a striker problem. Both George Hirst (-2.78) and Ivan Azon (-6.46) underperformed their expected goals tally considerably in the Championship last year. And they featured in the top-four in big chances missed in the division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In a similar fashion to how they solved their goalkeeping issues, they also brought in two new forwards: Emersonn and Daizen Maeda. The Japan international can play on both wings or up front, while the Brazilian is more of a traditional number nine. Ipswich also made Chuba Akpom’s loan from Ajax a permanent deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, recent reports indicate that they could be bringing back Julio Enciso to Portman Road. The Paraguayan spent the second half of the 2024\/25 season on loan with the Tractor Boys and tried to help them avoid relegation from the Premier League. He also worked under Gary O’Neil last year and had an impressive World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What positions should Ipswich Town strengthen?<\/h2>