Ipswich Town are now pushing to sign a new midfielder, who appears set to leave his current club this summer, with the French side ready to sell.
Ipswich chasing further signings after slow start
Kieran McKenna is determined to guide his side straight back to the Premier League, but their start to the Championship campaign has been underwhelming, with just two points from their first three matches.
Despite Ipswich claiming a 1-0 win on Saturday afternoon, Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom was full of praise for McKenna’s team, saying: “They’ve got some great individual talent — you can tell by looking at their bench and even the unused players.
“But they also work well without possession, which was clear today. There’s no question they’ll be in the mix this season.”
It’s true McKenna has added some real depth to his midfield, having brought in holding players Azor Matusiwa and Jens Cajuste earlier in the window to strengthen his squad.
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna applauds the supporters
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna applauds the supporters
Still, Ipswich are eager to land another central midfielder, according to a report from The Sun, which claims they are competing to sign Rennes’ Jordan James — though they’ll face stiff opposition.
James is attracting interest from Wrexham and Parma, with the ambitious Welsh club aiming to outbid the Italian side for the midfielder, who moved to Rennes from Birmingham for £4 million last summer.
Rennes are open to offloading the former Birmingham star to the highest bidder, despite using him regularly in Ligue 1 last season, and a move away now seems likely.
James could add spark to McKenna’s midfield options
The 20-cap Wales international has impressed on the international stage, earning praise from podcast host Jordan Webber for his strong display against a Croatia midfield featuring Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Marcelo Brozovic.
Though only 21, the Hereford-born midfielder brings plenty of Championship experience, having been a rare bright spot for Birmingham in 2023–24, scoring eight goals across 42 league appearances.
While Rennes’ readiness to let him go suggests he didn’t fully settle in France, the experience abroad may benefit him at Portman Road, and the chance to join a promotion push should appeal.
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