Ipswich Town

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Ipswich Town reporter for the East Anglian Daily Times, Alex Jones, believes Gary O'Neil will not "pull any punches" as he looks for a successful start to his tenure in charge at Portman Road,

The former Wolves and Bournemouth head coach has big shoes to fill after Kieran McKenna announced his departure to spend some time away from football earlier this summer.

However, Jones thinks that by bringing O'Neil in, there will be some continuity for the team and the relationship with the players already appears to be "really good".

Speaking on BBC Radio Suffolk's latest episode of The Blue Hour, Jones said: "I got to speak to him for the first time after the Osasuna game and he's really good.

"He's a really good talker and communicator. I noticed that especially at Colchester, where the press box is, you are near to the dugout and you can see how he's constantly communicating with the players, especially after a flat first half, the second half was a big improvement.

"From my experience of talking to him, he's very honest, very down to earth. He's not going to pull any punches but he makes sure you're up to date. If you ask him questions, he'll give you the extra context and backstory. It all bodes really well. He's a strong communicator."

On O'Neil's relationship with the players, Jones added: "They really seem to like him. I think the relationship seems to be really good.

"I think there's an element of continuation from McKenna. Obviously there are differences and we'll see those on and off the pitch but I think there's not a huge differentiation from what McKenna was tactically but also as a person - someone to talk to and get advice from.

"They could've maybe gone down the route of getting someone not so involved with a reputation but what they have done is gone and got someone who you can tell is really involved on the training pitch and with tactical ideas. I think players benefit from that."

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Everton's English midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, 23, is interesting Hull City, Ipswich Town and Coventry City.(Teamtalk), external

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Should a club build a new stadium or upgrade its current home in a bid to maintain some history? How significant is a new ground in terms of revenue generated? Will it move the needle?

BBC Sport has worked with football finance expert Kieran Maguire to consider the impact a new home has.

Take a look at your club's matchday revenue figures from 2024-25 below and get the full article here.

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Gary O'Neil and Ipswich Town claimed their first pre-season win by securing a 2-1 victory against Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park Stadium.

The Tractor Boys, who played a split-squad double-header on Saturday, fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat against League One outfit Oxford United in their first fixture of the afternoon.

Wycombe forward Emre Tezgel broke the deadlock after 56 minutes, having pounced on goalkeeper Alex Palmer's parried save and struck from close range.

Darnell Furlong almost equalised for Ipswich with 25 minutes to play, but his shot from just inside the box rattled the crossbar.

However, central midfielder Cameron Humphreys was on hand level things up with a right-footed curler before grabbing the winner with a tap-in one minute before full-time.

Summer signings Daizen Maeda and Issa Diop were also handed their first minutes in Ipswich Town colours.

The squad is set to take on Le Havre next at Portman Road on 4 August in a bid to get more minutes in the tank ahead of their Premier League return.

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Ipswich Town continued their winless start to pre-season with a 2-0 defeat by League One side Oxford United at Kassam Stadium.

New manager Gary O'Neil has now failed to win his first three fixtures in charge, albeit pre-season friendlies, after the Tractor Boys were held to a goalless draw by Cartagena and beaten 2-1 by Osasuna.

Kasey McAteer went close to getting the opener straight after half-time with a cross that was deflected onto the crossbar, but Wes Burns could only hit the side netting on the rebound.

However, it was Oxford United defender Jack Currie who found the breakthrough in the 61st minute with an unmarked tap-in at the back post.

The English third-tier side then capitalised on a defensive error to double their lead through Stanley Mills with less than 20 minutes left to play.

Ipswich Town will field a different XI later on Saturday (16:00 BST) when they face Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park Stadium.

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Gary O'Neil's Ipswich Town lost their second pre-season friendly 2-1 against La Liga side Osasuna.

The Spanish side took the lead in the opening five minutes, through a rebounded effort from Miguel Auria.

Chuba Akpom, who joined Ipswich on a permanent deal from Ajax in May 2026, scored a second-half equaliser eight minutes after being substituted on.

However, a fantastic strike from Osasuna's Raul Moro ricocheted off the underside of the crossbar to gift the La Liga outfit a pre-season victory at the JobServe Community Stadium.

O'Neil has now failed to win both his opening two warm-up games after the Tractor Boys were held to a goalless draw against Cartagena, who play in the second-tier in Spain.

Ipswich will face League One opponents Oxford United (12:00 BST) and Wycombe Wanderers (16:00 BST) next on 1 August in a double-header which will see O'Neil select two separate starting teams.

Ipswich Town are eyeing a move for Standard Liege's English defender Henry Lawrence, 24, who previously played for Chelsea. (Football Insider), external

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BBC Radio Suffolk's Graeme McLoughlin and Harvey Bell continue their (3 in 4) Top 5 Ipswich series with a look at Town's best goals scored during the Kieran McKenna era.

The pair both agreed Wes Burns' curling effort with the outside of his foot in a 2-1 win over Coventry at Portman Road in December 2023 was number one.

Nine of the ten outfield players were involved in the build-up before Burns drifted inside to score a beautiful Trivella finish.

"As a team goal, it is exceptional," said Bell.

"I'm not surprised it won Championship goal of the season. He probably should have won the Puskas award, and would have done if Town were playing at a higher level. It went viral everywhere.

"There was the individual brilliance by Burns but the teamwork to get him into that position was fantastic.

"It can't not be number one. It's such a good goal, it's jaw-dropping. Even now I'm still looking at that and thinking how on earth did that happen."

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Leyton Orient have completed a season-long loan deal for full-back Somto Boniface with Premier League-bound Ipswich Town.

The 20-year-old England youth international will join the Os for the 2026-27 campaign and becomes the eighth addition to the roster this summer.

London-born Boniface started his career at Chelsea's academy and moved to the Tractor Boys on a permanent deal during the January transfer window last season, but found a first-team breakthrough difficult.

Head coach Richie Wellens told the club website, external: "Every player we have had from Ipswich has been excellent and I hope that Somto will be the next to join that list.

"He is predominantly a left-back but can play at right-back, too. He is quick, athletic, he can go past people and is the profile of full-back that we want.

"Tactically, he is very adaptable and he adds a lot of pace to the team. I'm really looking forward to working with him."

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Video assistant referees should only be used to change "blatantly incorrect" decisions and clear missed incidents, say European refereeing officials.

Chief refereeing officers from all 55 European national football associations met last week with Uefa refereeing officials and a representative from the International Football Association Board (Ifab) to address recent changes to the game's laws.

Attendees said "lengthy, microscoping reviews" indicate VAR has gone beyond its original scope.

When VAR was added to the laws of the game in 2018 by football's rulemakers Ifab, its "philosophy" was "minimum interference - maximum benefit", with the intention of reducing "unfairness caused by clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents" relating to goals, penalties, direct red cards and mistaken identity.

Uefa said that at its recent meeting that refereeing bosses agreed a return to those original aims is needed.

"It was reiterated that, in accordance with protocol, VAR must only intervene in situations of 'clear and obvious' error, ie. when a referee decision is blatantly incorrect or when the referee has missed a clear incident," Uefa said in a statement.

"VAR is not meant to re-referee the game, it is an essential support to the referees, who must remain at the centre of all decision-making.

"Lengthy, microscoping reviews are often a symptom revealing that the decision on the field was not clearly and obviously incorrect, and should therefore be limited."

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Ipswich Town have signed goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen from Belgian Pro League side Union Saint-Gilloise.

The 26-year-old, who kept 21 clean sheets in 43 appearances last season, has joined the Tractor Boys on a four-year deal.

Scherpen arrives at Portman Road with previous Premier League experience, having spent four years at Brighton - mainly on loan - between 2021 and 2025.

The shot-stopper, who becomes Gary O'Neil's sixth summer signing, has also played Champions League group-stage football in each of the past two seasons.

"This is a very proud moment for me," Scherpen said. "This is a great opportunity for me to show my qualities and test myself in the best league in the world.

"I'm really looking forward to making memories together. I've had great conversations and everything has been really positive, so it has made me very excited to join Ipswich Town.

"I'm looking forward to meeting my team-mates, and I can't wait to meet the fans and get started."

O'Neil added: "He is a strong addition to our goalkeeping unit and we are delighted to have him with us.

"He has experienced playing at the top level in different countries, as well as in European competitions, and he is excited to now have the opportunity to test himself in the Premier League."

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On the latest episode of The Blue Hour, Ipswich Town fan David discussed the club's summer transfer business as they prepare for their Premier League return at the first time of asking.

Speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk, he said he was "very excited" after the club signed Daizen Maeda, Abdul Fatawu and Issa Diop.

David said: "We've just finished watching the World Cup and all of a sudden there are three players from the World Cup who have signed for us. It's exciting. What's not to like?"

"Maeda seemed to gain a new lease of life in the second half of last season under Martin O'Neill, non-stop running, he can play seemingly many positions up front and I think he is going to get more than just the odd goal for us as well."

Japan forward Maeda has joined from Celtic on a three-year contract having won five league titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups during his time in Scotland.

Despite the addition of Maeda, David feels a "bona fide Premier League experienced number nine" will be needed.

See if you agree with what was said. Listen to The Blue Hour below or on BBC Sounds here - and subscribe to the dedicated Ipswich Town page to get all Tractor Boys audio content.

Fulham's 29-year-old Serbia international Sasa Lukic is among the midfield targets for Ipswich Town this summer. (Sky Sports), external

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English football is set to implement a trial to try to eradicate the goalkeeper tactical timeout this season, BBC Sport can reveal.

The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women's Super League have agreed on the measure, pending permission from the International Football Association Board (Ifab).

Earlier this year, Ifab decided against changing the law and invited leagues to volunteer for trials.

Pro Ref, led by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, has been in discussions with the leagues to determine how to tackle the issue. It settled on a team having to remove an outfield player from the field.

If a referee signals that the physio can come on to treat a goalkeeper, the coach will have 10 seconds to nominate another player to leave the pitch for one minute, telling the fourth official of their choice.

If no player has been selected within 10 seconds, the captain must leave the field.

Read more on the trial

The Premier League return draws closer and transfer needs become all the more pressing.

Join BBC Radio Suffolk's The Blue Hour to hear what fans and experts are saying.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and subscribe to the dedicated Ipswich Town page to get all Tractor Boys audio content.

Freya Sweet
BBC Sport journalist

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New forward Daizen Maeda promises he "will always run and give everything that I have" for Ipswich after arriving on a three-year contract from Celtic.

He told Ipswich's official website: "I am very proud to sign for Ipswich Town. I have always dreamed of playing in the Premier League and I am very happy I can realise that dream with this club.

"I have loved all of the conversations with the club and they have made me feel very welcome."

The 28-year-old Japan international said his aim "will always be to battle hard, score goals, and provide assists for my team" and shared his excitement to "learn more about the club and meet the supporters".

Maeda scored 79 goals in 212 appearances for Celtic, where he won five league titles, three Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups.

Town manager Gary O'Neil said "we are proud" Maeda decided to achieve his aim of playing in the Premier League by signing for Ipswich.

O'Neil added: "He works extremely hard and has impressive physical attributes, while also proving over a number of years playing in Scotland that he has the ability to score goals and create for his team."

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BBC Radio Suffolk's Graeme McLoughlin and Harvey Bell continue their (3 in 4) Top 5 Ipswich series with a look at Town's most notable loan players.

Bell described one of his top loan players: "George Hirst. This is ignoring pretty much anything he's done in the last three years, solely basing this on his six months at the back end of the 2022-23 season.

"He was brilliant, exactly what we needed. Freddie Ladapo didn't have anyone challenging him at the time for the striker position. Hirst scored six goals at the end of that season, including the one at Barnsley."

Listen in full below or on BBC Sounds here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Derby County are edging closer to bringing Ipswich forward Sammie Szmodics back to the club.

The Rams are trying to sign the 30-year-old in a deal worth more than £4m after he spent the second half of last season at the Championship club.

If the move goes through he will link up with boss John Eustace for a third time, having also worked with him at Blackburn.

Republic of Ireland international Szmodics scored three goals in 13 games as Derby finished eighth last term, four points adrift of the play-offs.

Under Eustace at Blackburn he won the division's Golden Boot when he scored 27 goals in 2023-24.

Ipswich have been open to letting Szmodics leave this summer but he has been with the group during pre-season.

They paid Blackburn £9m in 2024 and he has scored five goals in 39 appearances for the Tractor Boys.

Japan forward Daizen Maeda, 28, is scheduled to have a medical with Ipswich Town before completing his transfer from Celtic for an initial £8m plus £2m in add-ons. (Sky Sports, external)

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