Ipswich Town and Coventry City will be very happy to have achieved automatic promotion to the Premier League amid rumors of the Spygate scandal involving Southampton in the Championship.
Saints’ spying tactics could lead to postponement of the approaching Championship playoff final.
Thankfully, Tractor Boys and Sky Blues have not been affected by such delays and both teams have been playing competitive matches in the top flight since the beginning of May, with Watford securing a top two spot with a big win over Queens Park Rangers.
Both sides scored bucketloads of goals on the final day of the season to comfortably secure their Premier League status as QPR and the Hornets leaked seven goals each, but the top flight is a very different kettle of fish as the promoted duo continue to be linked with a host of brand new centre-forwards to try and adapt to the tough division.
Top 5 scoring teams in the Championship – 25/26 | |
|---|---|
team | Number of points scored |
1. Coventry | 97 |
2. Southampton | 82 |
3. Ipswich | 80 |
4. Middlesbrough | 72 |
5. Hull | 70 |
Ipswich and Coventry target new striker
In last season’s league campaign, both Frank Lampard’s dominant champions and Kieran McKenna’s side would score an incredible 177 goals.
Unfortunately for the Tractor Boys, however, they have scored just 36 goals in the relegation-bound 2024/25 season, and they know their scoring spree in the second division will mean little when they jump up.
Coventry are also likely to have a bad awakening. Both promoted teams have therefore been linked with the signing of players such as Reus Openda, a well-known top scorer in leagues such as the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, to further strengthen their attacking positions.
Troy Parrott is also reportedly of interest after a 23-goal season with AZ Alkmaar, and it is clear which position the Premier League new signing will be targeting in his early summer signing.
There is another target on the agenda for both clubs, who could be the Premier League’s next Liam Delap, and that will no doubt attract the attention of Tractor Boys fans.
Ipswich and Coventry could compete for new Delap
Delap sparked Suffolk’s side into the Premier League last season, scoring a top-flight 12 goals in just 32 league starts and providing a rare flash of brilliance at Portman Road.
He was hailed as a “monster” in front of goal, according to former Ipswich team-mate Alex Palmer, but Chelsea will replace the 23-year-old with the Tractor Boys’ relegation to the Second Division confirmed, much to the dismay of Ipswich fans.
So if Ipswich have the chance to sign a striker like Delap this summer, they should go all out, and Tottenham Hotspur youngster Will Lankshear probably ticks all the right boxes in this regard.
According to Football Insider, the promoted club have been keen on the forward for some time, with Leeds United keen to make a move this summer, and it would not be a shock to see Ipswich return with interest after Lankshard scored an encouraging 12 goals on loan at Oxford United last season.
Coventry could also potentially pursue his signature as they look to acquire their own Delap-style sensation who can score goals to stave off relegation.
After all, Delap was once in Lankshear’s shoes as a quality player coming out of Manchester City’s academy. He benefited from multiple EFL loans, playing 68 games in the second tier, including for Hull City, and scoring 12 goals (exactly the same number as his one-time loan at the U’s).
The 23-year-old is now a £30m talent after a hot stint at Portman Road, and Lankshear, who has emerged from the shadow of a promising young career at Spurs, is similarly keen to become a mainstay for teams like Ipswich and Coventry.
The 21-year-old, who scored 26 goals for the Under-21z and one senior strike for North London Giants, said he would “go all the way to the top” with Matt Bloomfield and was even dubbed a “Harry Kane playback” by one X scout.
Ipswich and Coventry may soon gift Lancshire with a platform to live up to the hype. McKenna and co wait in silence for his potential to be another Delappian revelation, only this time survival will be achieved.
In the Sky Blues’ corner, they will be willing to gamble, as the Tractor Boys did with Delap last season, as they look to sign the right players to improve their chances of survival.
Coventry City open talks for new Gyokeles contract – Ipswich must do the same
Coventry City have set an example for Ipswich Town ahead of the summer transfer window and have begun contract negotiations with an impressive striker.
