Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy is set for a move to the Middle East.
Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy is set to depart the club after not joining the rest of the squad for a pre-season training camp in Austria.
The modern day club legend was the beating heart of a team that secured back-to-back promotions and subsequently started 31 games in the Premier League last season.
Both he and Blues boss Kieran McKenna expressed a desire to keep working together as the club bids for a quick return to the top flight, but negotiations over extending his contract – which is due to run out next summer – weren’t able to progress.
Morsy turns 34 in September and Town have recently spent £7.8m to sign a similar style defensive midfielder in 27-year-old Azor Matusiwa.
The nine-cap Egyptian international, keen to remain a week-in, week-out starter and secure the best deal possible for his family at the back end of his career, therefore explored other options.
The EADT and Ipswich Star understands that Kuwait SC have put forward a lucrative offer and that Ipswich won’t demand a transfer fee, as long as the move is outside of England, in order to facilitate a smooth exit for a player who has done so much for the club.
A devout Muslim who has been an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, Morsy has long drawn interest from clubs in the Middle East and believed to be excited by a new challenge.
Defender Dara O’Shea, who recently penned a new five-year deal at Portman Road, is set to become the club’s new skipper.
On June 2, when revealing that Massimo Luongo was to be released, Blues boss Kieran McKenna said: “We’re in a position as a club where we need to try and invest in the future. Sam (Morsy) and Mass have done incredibly for the club. And, of course, Sammy is still going to be an important part of it next year.
“But we need to invest in those roles, in those positions, and add depth to that midfield unit to help us not just for next season, but also for the seasons ahead.”
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