Having already agreed a loan deal to sign Cedric Kipre from Stade de Reims, Ipswich Town are now reportedly closing in on their second signing of the summer in the form of another Ligue 1 star.
Ipswich set to sign Cedric Kipre
It’s been a slow summer transfer window at Portman Road so far as Kieran McKenna looks to build a side capable of earning an instant return to the Premier League without Liam Delap. The talented forward was always destined to depart once relegation was confirmed and he did just that when Chelsea came calling to win a frantic race for his signature.
Replacing the forward remains the toughest task for Ipswich this summer, but not one that sits top of their list of priorities. Instead, according to recent reports, The Tractor Boys are set to commence their summer business by signing Kipre on loan from Reims to hand the central defender his first move back to English football since leaving West Bromwich Albion last year.
Kipre will need little introduction to Championship fans given his extensive experience in England’s second tier, and that experience should prove to be key for McKenna’s side next season.
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Whether signing Championship experience is part of the overall plan for Ipswich this summer remains to be seen. Recent links have emerged with the likes of Kwame Poku have been mentioned in recent weeks before his move to QPR, but those at Portman Road could first welcome a midfield reinforcement to match the potential arrival of Kipre this summer.
Ipswich in advanced talks to signing Matusiwa
As reported by Le Parisien, Ipswich are now closing in on a deal and are in advanced talks to sign Azor Matusiwa from Stade Rennais this summer. The defensive midfielder initially cost the French side around €16m (£14m) back in January 2024, but is seemingly set to move on just 18 months later in favour of McKenna’s side.
|
League stats 24/25 (via FBref) |
Azor Matusiwa |
Jens Cajuste |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes |
2,078 |
1,959 |
|
Progressive Passes |
134 |
59 |
|
Tackles Won |
39 |
22 |
|
Ball Recoveries |
134 |
107 |
As far as replacements for Jens Cajuste go, it’s fair to say that Matusiwa is an impressive option. The midfielder outperformed the former Ipswich loanee and Napoli midfielder in several key departments last season and will thrive in the Championship if he completes a summer switch.
In a deal worth £10m, Matusiwa could even turn into an excellent bargain at Portman Road. During his time at Reims, the midfielder found himself at the centre of praise more than once, including from Ben Mattinson in 2023. The analyst described the Dutchman’s anticipation as “great” and went on to praise him as “strong” as well as “agile”.
So, although Ipswich have taken time to get going, both Kipre and Matusiwa would represent solid signings to kickstart their transfer window at long last.
