Ipswich are keen to sign player of the season candidate to replace Christian Walton

Ipswich Town want to sign a new goalkeeper to replace Christian Walton, regardless of promotion from the Championship, and are eyeing the signing of Carl Rushworth on loan from Coventry City.

Ipswich took another big step towards promotion on Saturday with a 2-0 win over arch-rivals Norwich City at Carrow Road, with first-half goals from Jayden Philozine and George Hurst.

Kieran McKenna was pleased with his team’s performance at the first opportunity, which puts them in a very strong position for a return to the Premier League. “We knew how difficult it was to come here and the players were determined to give themselves and the supporters the moment and the memory. That required a great defensive performance. We defended very well from the front to the back, both in open play and set pieces.”

“We had more chances in the game and were clinical in terms of movement. It was a different type of performance for us and a great effort in the context of the derby.”

Middlesbrough lost 1-0 at home to Portsmouth and Millwall drew 0-0 with West Bromwich Albion, meaning the Tractor Boys are currently second in the table, two points behind Alex Neil’s side with two games in hand.

But McKenna knows all too well how difficult it is to stay in the Premier League. This means the manager will need to make suitable reinforcements this summer, with the team aiming for promotion to the Championship planning to bring in a new goalkeeper.

Ipswich enter race to sign Coventry star Karl Rushworth

According to reporter Alan Nixon (via GiveMeSport), Ipswich are currently in the race to sign Brighton goalkeeper Rushworth. Rushworth spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Coventry City, where he made a positive impression.

The 24-year-old did not miss a game for fellow promotion-chasing Frank Lampard’s side, despite drawing 0-0 at home to struggling Sheffield Wednesday side on Saturday, and has just been nominated for the Championship Player of the Season award.

The Tractor Boys will be looking for a replacement for Walton, regardless of whether he crosses the line for promotion, and the Englishman – hailed as “absolutely sensational” by author Andrew James – could be an exciting option given his 16 clean sheets in the Championship this season.

McKenna’s side are close to tasting promotion, but they still have six big games remaining, starting with the long journey to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth on Tuesday night.

After this, Ipswich have a tough game ahead of them against promotion rivals and an in-form West Bromwich Albion side who have been fighting for their lives.