wchTown have received four permanent offers to sell a versatile forward in the January transfer window, according to a new report.

Kieran McKenna and the Tractor Boys completed their second winter window signing on Wednesday evening, with Jaden Philogene following Ben Godfrey through the Portman Road door.

The winger has signed on a permanent transfer from Premier League rivals Aston Villa and put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

Talking after completing his move, Philogene said: “I’m excited to be here and I know there are great players in the squad. I just want to play as much as possible. As a player I like to dribble and link up play and provide goals and assists. I’m looking forward to it.”

McKenna has hinted that attention will now turn to outgoings, with a loan exit for full-back Harry Clarke a possibility. “There’s a possibility that Harry Clarke will go out on loan. Me and Harry have had those conversations. He’s an important player for us, a very good player. He played through some injury at the back end of last season and had a big surgery in the summer, so he’s missed a few months of football.

“He’s had some minutes now in the Premier League, some exposure. But of course, for his age, as a young defender, it’s important to be getting minutes regularly for his progression and his role at the club. If everything is in a good place in the squad over the next week or two from an availability point of view, then there’s a chance that Harry will go out on loan to get some regular playing time, to keep pushing with his development.”

Permanent exits for some players who are still on the books at Portman Road may also be a possibility, though. Middlesbrough have had a bid turned down for loanee George Edmundson, with Ipswich open to selling at the right piece with the defender out of contract in the summer.

Ipswich Town receive 4 bids for versatile forward

Now, another Ipswich Town player is wanted in a full-time January transfer window exit after impressing out on loan. According to The 17, four clubs have made permanent bids to sign Ipswich Town attacker Osman Foyo.

The 20-year-old has been catching the eye out on loan with Chelmsford City in the National League South which has alerted League One side Crawley Town and League Two trio AFC Wimbledon, Port Vale and Colchester United.

The report states that all our clubs have made permanent bids for Foyo and he is set to join one of the sides ‘in the next 10 days with offers lodged and talks over personal terms taking place’.

Foyo scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 21 National League South games for Chelmsford City, so it’s easy to see why he has caught the eye of a number of EFL outfits.

A versatile forward who can play on the right-wing, left-wing or as an attacking midfielder, Foyo was previously on the books of rivals Norwich City before moving to Ipswich in 2023, as per Transfermarkt.

Now, it looks as if he will depart Portman Road for good without making a single first-team appearance under McKenna.

Ipswich Town supporters will be hoping that their relegation-threatened team’s positive January continues against Brighton and Hove Albion, with a draw and a win already collected this month in all competitions.

After the Seagulls travel to Suffolk, Kieran McKenna‘s men then have a double whammy of Manchester City and Liverpool to contend with, as more and more fixtures in the Premier League come thick and fast for the Tractor Boys.

The Northern Irish manager will know he can rely on the likes of Liam Delap moving forward among other top first-team personnel to continue to put in admirable performances, with the 21-year-old wanting to let his football do the talking amidst rampant speculation linking him with a move away from the top-flight minnows.

How Ipswich can ensure Premier League survival

In all fairness, McKenna’s men have been far from poor this term with some notable players becoming household names across the campaign to date.

The biggest part of their survival bid will be the aforementioned Delap. He’s seriously caught the eye on the way to notching up plenty of goals with his eighth Premier League strike of a glittering season coming last time out versus Fulham when he calmly slotted a penalty away in the 2-2 draw.

Before that, he also managed to score and assist during a dramatic 2-0 win over Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, with the Blues now interested in snapping up the potent attacker at some point this January.

There have been other star performers in the side which include Leif Davis at the back who has transitioned to top-flight football equally as well.

The ex-Leeds United man has three goal contributions next to his name in the league as a gung-ho option in defence but has also managed to show solidity at the back when needed, notably winning as many as six duels won in total versus Nottingham Forest back in November.

Alongside these two faces, there have been other standout individuals such as Dara O’Shea who won five duels himself versus Chelsea, but there have also been some notable underperformers.

One of which has been the captain…

Sam Morsy’s difficult adjustment to Premier League life was clear for all to see in Ipswich’s last league clash at Fulham, with the midfielder giving away one of the two spot-kicks at Craven Cottage due to some reckless tackling on a day where most of his play felt erratic.

He ended up winning just two of his seven duels against Marco Silva’s hosts – with his average per game for the season a far heftier 4.3. His showing against Chelsea was also below-par considering all of the star performers surrounding him, having registered just 71% of his passes.

Therefore, McKenna could well have a selection conundrum to address involving the long-standing Ipswich servant, with Kalvin Phillips also standing out in the FA Cup in his place with a goal tallied up against Bristol Rovers.

With Nemanja Matic also touted with a move to Suffolk, there might not be space for the 33-year-old veteran anymore in his starting XI on a consistent basis, despite the fact Morsy has been a regular during the club’s

promotion heroics.On top of Morsy sliding down the pecking order due to his out-of-sorts form, he could soon be axed for good by Ipswich owing to his high salary which sees him rake in a £30k-per-week pay packet.

Amazingly, both Delap and Davis earn less despite taking to the top flight like a duck to water, with the exciting pair both taking home a lesser £20k-per-week.

Whilst Morsy did win the club’s Player of the Year for his side just last year as promotion was reached, McKenna will know he needs to keep up with the times, which could result in the ageing midfielder’s game-time lessening even more as survival is sought after.

Former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic could reportedly be offered a route back to the Premier League by newly-promoted Ipswich Town.

The Tractor Boys are currently on course to head straight back down to the Championship as they occupy 18th place in the top-flight rankings, albeit only adrift of 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers on goal difference.

Kieran McKenna reinforced the Ipswich midfield over the summer with the captures of Kalvin Phillips and Jens Cajuste on loan from Manchester City and Napoli respectively, but according to Sky Deutschland, the East Anglia outfit are now eyeing a shock move for Matic.

The 36-year-old left England in 2022 following the expiry of his contract with the Red Devils, since when he has represented Roma, Rennes and most recently Lyon.

Matic only has 18 months left to run on his deal with Les Gones, though, and the French outfit have been under significant pressure to raise funds after being provisionally relegated to Ligue 2.

Serie A trio Fiorentina, Como and Napoli are also reported to have shown an interest in the former Serbia international, but he supposedly has no plans to leave the Groupama Stadium this month.

Aston Villa on verge of teenager signing?

At the other end of the experience scale, 18-year-old Kasimpasa and Turkey defender Yasin Ozcan is apparently on the verge of making the mid-season switch to Aston Villa.

The 2006-born centre-back has started every Turkish Super Lig match for Kasimpasa this season, registering one assist, and he earned his first senior national team call-up in June of last year.

Ozcan penned a long-term contract extension with his current club until 2029 last summer too, but according to A Spor – via Ajansspor – the youngster is set to embark on a new adventure to Villa Park.

Villa will allegedly pay Kasimpasa a fee of €8m (£6.7m) to bring Ozcan to the Premier League, and he is set to travel to England next week to undergo his medical and sign his contract.

The report adds that Unai Emery might decide to integrate the centre-back into his squad straight away, or the Lions might choose to send him back on loan to Kasimpasa for the rest of the campaign.

Ozcan’s imminent switch to Villa comes at a time where Diego Carlos is being heavily linked with an exit from the Lions, who could coincidentally sell him to another Turkish side in Fenerbahce.

Borussia Dortmund ‘make approach’ for City defender

From one teenage centre-back to another, Manchester City starlet Max Alleyne has supposedly been the subject of an approach from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

The 19-year-old has been on the bench for Pep Guardiola‘s side in the Premier League this season, but he is still waiting to make his senior debut for the Citizens and was not involved in Saturday’s 8-0 FA Cup annihilation of Salford City.

The Premier League champions have been hit particularly hard by defensive injuries this season, but rather than promote Alleyne, City are on the brink of sealing a £33.5m deal for Lens’ Abdukodir Khusanov.

The Uzbekistan international’s arrival would present another roadblock in Alleyne’s path to the first team, and according to Fabrizio Romano, Dortmund have now touched base over a move.

Romano adds that unnamed Premier League teams are also showing an interest in the Under-20 international, but Dortmund have stolen a march on their English rivals by making first contact.

Alleyne joined Man City’s academy ranks from Southampton in 2021 and was a part of their triumphant Club World Cup squad in the 2023-24 season.

We started with a former Man United midfielder, and we will end with a former Man United midfielder, as a separate update from Romano claims that Ander Herrera is close to joining Boca Juniors.

The 35-year-old has represented La Liga powerhouses Athletic Bilbao since the start of the 2022-23 season, initially joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain before his move was made permanent midway through the campaign.

However, Herrera has only played 419 minutes of football across 14 appearances this season, making just two La Liga starts and missing his side’s last five games with a muscular injury.

The Spaniard’s contract with the Basque side now only has six months left to run, and talks between Boca Juniors and Athletic are now said to have reached a ‘very advanced’ stage.

Herrera has reportedly always dreamed of representing the Argentinian giants, and the veteran will travel to South America to complete his medical with Boca Juniors next week.

Herrera has won 12 major trophies during a successful career in European football, most recently helping Athletic claim the Copa del Rey title last season.

First-half goals from Kalvin Phillips, Jack Clarke and Jack Taylor saw Town safely into round four of the FA Cup after a very comfortable 3-0 victory over League One Bristol Rovers at Portman Road. Phillips opened the scoring with a low shot on 18, Clarke stabbed home from close range six minutes later and Taylor added a controversial third on 37 with Ali Al-Hamadi missing a second-half penalty.

Boss Kieran McKenna made 10 changes with Luke Woolfenden, who skippered his local club for the first time, the only survivor from the 2-2 draw at Fulham a week ago.

Aro Muric returned in goal with new signing Ben Godfrey, given a big cheer when his name was read out over the PA, making his debut at right-back and Conor Townsend his home debut at left-back. Woolfenden was reunited with Cameron Burgess at the heart of the defence.

In midfield, Phillips was partnered by Massimo Luongo with Wes Burns, Taylor and Clarke the three behind striker Al-Hamadi. The bench was made up of first-team regulars with Cieran Slicker the sub keeper. George Hirst made his return to the squad after his knee injury.

League One Rovers made two changes with Connor Taylor and new signing Romaine Sawyers coming in for Jamie Lindsay and one-time Blues loanee Thomas, who were both on the bench.

Ex-Town James Wilson and Grant Ward started, as did Suffolk-born former Norwich striker Chris Martin.

Town began on the front foot and went close for the first time in the second minute, Burgess flicking a header over at the near post from Townsend’s corner from the right, a Luongo cross towards Burns having been nodded behind.

The Blues won a series of early corners, but were unable to trouble visitors keeper Josh Griffiths, an England U21 international on loan from West Brom.

On 13, the Blues had what looked a decent shout for a penalty when Clarke tried to go between two defenders on the left of the area and appeared to be brought down by Shaq Forde, however, referee Oliver Langford showed no interest.

Taylor scuffed a shot well wide from the edge of the box, then on the quarter-hour, the Blues went close again from a corner, Burgess heading against a defender, then Al-Hamadi’s follow-up was straight at the keeper.

But the majority of the 27,678-strong crowd didn’t have to wait too much longer to see their side to go in front.

After a cross from the right had been cleared in the 18th minute, Clarke squared to Phillips just over 20 yards out, the on-loan Manchester City man taking a touch before hitting a low shot past Griffiths to his right, the England international’s first goal for the club.

Five minutes later, it was 2-0. Taylor played a ball inside to Al-Hamadi in space on the right of the box, the Iraq international’s shot was blocked by ex-Town defender Wilson, but the ball ricocheted across the area and Clarke slid home his first goal for the Blues from six yards.

And in the 38th minute it was 3-0. Townsend drove forward and played a through ball which Al-Hamadi flicked on to Taylor just inside the area and the Irish international made slotted to Griffiths’s left.

Video evidence showed VAR would probably have disallowed it for offside had it been in operation with the former Peterborough man, who coincidentally scored his first goal for the Blues in the Carabao Cup against the Gas last season, well offside.

Town continued to look for goals, Taylor and Luongo exchanging passes on the right of the box in the 40th minute but the earlier scorer this time screwed well wide.

Three minutes later, keeper Muric caused a scare for the Blues with a pass out from the back which found Ruel Sotiriou. Fortunately for the Kosovan international, he was able to stop the Cypriot international’s low first-time shot with his foot.

In the final scheduled minute, following a corner on the right, Clarke played the ball across from the left towards Townsend, who air-kicked when the former West Brom man might also have been celebrating his first goal for the club.

That was the last action of a very comfortable 45 minutes for the Blues with any concerns regarding a repeat of last year’s shock defeat to Maidstone allayed by the three goals.

The Blues had dominated from start to finish and might have scored before Phillips rifled his low shot into the corner of the net.

Clarke took his opportunity clinically, a goal which will do the summer signing from Sunderland good, and Taylor his with similar aplomb but with Town profiting from VAR not being in operation.

Ahead of the second half, the Blues swapped Burns for Ben Johnson and five minutes after the restart they went close to scoring their fourth, Clarke sweeping the ball wide to Townsend, whose teasing cross was just too far in front of Al-Hamadi and Connor Taylor slid it behind ahead of Clarke, who had made a lung-busting run into the box.

In the 49th minute, Town were awarded their third penalty in three games. Townsend laid the ball off to Luongo on the edge of the area and the Australian international’s shot was blocked by ex-Blues midfielder Ward’s arm. Despite Rovers protests, referee Langford pointed straight to the spot.

Al-Hamadi took the kick but scuffed his effort well wide of Griffiths’s right post giving the travelling fans something to sing about for the first time all afternoon.

Play moved to the other end and new boy Godfrey made an important challenge inside the Blues box.

It was Luongo’s turn to air-kick soon afterwards a cross from the right by Johnson deflecting to the midfielder.

As the game reached the hour mark, a Johnson shot was blocked after Al-Hamadi had found him with a pass from the other flank.

Town continued to control the game and look for more goals with the Pirates every bit a side which is struggling at the wrong end of League One.

Rovers made a double change in the 68th minute, Forde and the entirely anonymous Martin making way for Gatlin O’Donkor and ex-Blues loanee Thomas.

The Blues made a double change of their own in the 73rd minute, switching Al-Hamadi, who won’t want to watch his penalty kick back, Taylor and Godfrey, who was comfortable and rarely seriously tested on his debut, for the returning Hirst, Nathan Broadhead and Harry Clarke. The Gas swapped Sawyers and Sotiriou for Lindsay and Isaac Hutchinson.

Town kept looking for goals with Townsend, excellent on his home debut at left-back, cutting back from the left to Broadhead but the Welshman’s first-time strike was blocked.

The Blues swapped their keepers for the final nine minutes, Slicker, who was called up to the full Scotland squad earlier in the season, making his third appearance for the club and second against Rovers at Portman Road, his previous two games for Town having been in the Carabao Cup last season.

Hirst wasn’t far away from making it 4-0 in the 82nd minute, the striker lifting the ball over the advancing Griffiths but the keeper getting enough on it to allow Wilson to clear in front of the line.

Rovers made their final sub in the 86th minute, Joel Senior taking over from Connor Taylor and, following one additional minute, referee Langford brought the game to an end.

A thoroughly dominant display by the Blues, who never looked in any danger of being on the wrong end of a cup upset once Phillips had put them in front. As in last year’s cup games, a much-changed side played very fluently.

They may be a little disappointed not to have added to their goals in the second half, particularly having been awarded their third penalty in three games, and having had plenty of chances with Pirates keeper Griffiths, who had a decent match for the visitors despite the scoreline.

New signing Godfrey had a solid game on his debut but wasn’t really tested by a disappointing Rovers attack.

Perhaps the brightest spark was Townsend, the summer signing making a belated home debut at left-back and at the heart of much of the Blues’ best play going forward and creating a number of chances, including Taylor’s fortunately allowed third goal.

A result Town will hope may prove to be an omen with their run to Wembley in 1978, the only year in which they won the competition, having included a 3-0 victory over Rovers at Portman Road, a fifth-round replay following a 2-2 draw at Eastville.

The Blues move on to the fourth round with the draw this evening following the completion of the Arsenal-Manchester United tie, which was level at 90 minutes and in extra-time.