Ipswich Town endured another heavy defeat in the Premier League when they visited Liverpool on Saturday, as Arne Slot’s team triumphed 4-1 in a dominant performance.
It was always going to be a difficult task for the Tractor Boys to challenge Liverpool at Anfield, with the Suffolk side remaining in the relegation zone on goal difference after suffering another crushing loss.
Kieran-McKenna-Ipswich
With Ali Al-Hamadi loaned out to the Championship to gain more game time, Kieran McKenna might now be focusing on strengthening his attacking options.
Although Liam Delap has often shown his ability as an explosive and efficient striker this season, he is also prone to inconsistency in front of goal.
Liam Delap’s recent struggles for Ipswich
The former Manchester City forward has gone without scoring in his last three appearances for Ipswich, with the tough competition likely exacerbating his issues.
In those three losses to Brighton and Hove Albion, Liverpool, and Manchester City, Delap has had just 53 touches in total, with only three attempts at goal, as the rest of his teammates also struggled offensively.
However, one would expect the 21-year-old to return to form sooner rather than later, given his record of eight goals in 21 Premier League appearances before this dry spell.
Yet, McKenna will know he can’t depend solely on Delap, and with George Hirst scoring just once in 11 league games as an alternative, a new striker could be brought in to shake up the forward line.
liam-delap-ipswich-town
Ipswich enquire about “explosive” teenager
According to football journalist Graeme Bailey, there is increasing interest in Sheffield United’s rising star Ryan One, with Ipswich among several clubs monitoring the talented 18-year-old.
The Tractor Boys have reportedly made an enquiry about signing the teenager, with Premier League clubs like Liverpool, Brighton, and Tottenham also keeping tabs on him. One might be tempted by the prospect of more regular game time at Ipswich compared to other options.
The youngster has already made a name for himself at Sheffield United, including a composed finish for the U21 side against rivals Sheffield Wednesday, which helped him earn a spot in the first team.
Labelled as “explosive” by the Scottish football account Scotball, One has scored just once in 13 senior appearances, but there is hope that Ipswich can once again unearth a raw talent like they did with Hirst.
Hirst’s career record
Club
Game
Goals
Ipswich
64
15
Portsmouth
46
15
Rotherham
32
0
OH Leuven
23
3
Blackburn Rovers
11
0
Leicester City
2
0
Sheffield Wednesday
2
0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
As shown in the table above, Hirst hasn’t always been a prolific goal-scorer, with struggles at various clubs before finding his feet at Ipswich, where he’s enjoyed a breakout season after back-to-back promotions.
While One has netted five senior career goals, both in Scotland and Sheffield, McKenna could prove to be the perfect manager to help him realize his potential, as he has done with Hirst.
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna applauds fans after the match
While no one expects the 18-year-old to immediately displace Delap from the starting XI, signing One would add depth and competition to the forward line, providing another promising option for McKenna.
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