LIVE: Ipswich officially jump into the quee for “swashbuckling” star at PL club…
As much as supporters of Ipswich Town will enjoy getting hung up on the millions the team is now spending to sign elite new players for the Premier League, they will also be aware that there are a number of outstanding players already in Suffolk who should have a chance to play in the top division.
Leif Davis is undoubtedly in the latter category; during the previous season, he tore away Championship defenses aside from left-back on his path to an incredible promotion.
To revitalize his faltering career, Kieran McKenna may consider using Davis’s success story as justification to pursue an out-of-sorts target. Davis was previously a rejected product of the Leeds United academy.
Ipswich could go after wantaway Spurs defender
John Wenham, a contributor to the Lilywhite Rose podcast, claims that Ipswich may be among the clubs eventually expressing interest in Spurs defender Djed Spence. The former Nottingham Forest loanee was passed over for a permanent move to Genoa.
Wenham stated that he suspects Premier League interest might emerge for the wantaway 23-year-old soon, who has really struggled to make an impact in North London since joining in 2022, with three dire loan spells away from Ange Postecoglou’s men coming his way.
How Spence could be Ipswich’s next Davis
Leeds United allowed Spence to leave early from his loan stint last season after he failed to impress – playing just seven games – but Ipswich have been able to turn unwanted players from West Yorkshire into superb gems when they relocate down to Suffolk, with Davis the main glowing example.
With Ipswich also arguably light in the right-back spot, as seen with Ben Johnson already joining McKenna’s group down this flank to add numbers, the forgotten 23-year-old could shine if given time to acclimatise and settle at Portman Road, having once been a firm fan’s favourite at Forest as a dangerous and expansive full-back option, just like Davis.
As can be seen with the sumptuous strike captured above from his fruitful time at the City Ground, Spence is unafraid to get involved with many an attack for his side, which would complement his partner down the left in Davis perfectly.
Spence pickedf up three goals and five assists from 46 total games whilst still on the books at Forest, which is a far cry away from the poor form that has plagued him since being chucked out on loan, with zero goal contributions managed whilst playing for Genoa, Rennes and Leeds.
Comparing both of their peaks in the Championship, when looking at the table above, Davis’ attacking numbers obviously sweep the floor with Spence’s at a staggering 21 assists to his lesser five.
However, Spence could offer some defensive grit to a leaky Tractor Boys side in the Premier League too, having picked up ten more clean sheets across his 42 league games for Forest than Davis, alongside bettering his duels won total.
The on-the-fringes Spurs defender approach as a “swashbuckling” presence will also have piqued Ipswich’s interest, as he was described by Arsenal great Ian Wright – with McKenna now potentially stumbling across his next diamond in the rough.
