Ipswich Town

Seb Brown
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The sun has set on Ipswich's venture into the Premier League and now the crucial work will begin to ensure the club is ready to mount a return at the first opportunity.

The Liam Delap relegation release clause is a frustration, but its advantage is that it means there will be no long running saga with suitors fighting to win his signature.

Central midfield looks to be the most obvious area in need of attention.

Kalvin Phillips and Massimo Luongo have left, Sam Morsy is another year older, and Jack Taylor has never nailed down a starting spot since joining two summers ago.

We know Kieran McKenna likes to revisit previous targets so Flynn Downes returning to the club could be a possibility, while any permanent move for Jen Cajuste would be welcoming.

Up front, Town may have the ideal Delap replacement in the building already.

George Hirst has proved he can score and assist at Championship level. Ipswich are arguably a better 'team' with him in the starting XI but questions around his durability will persist based on recent history. At least one striker will be needed to provide competition and support.

The transfer strategy over the past two windows has been to buy the very best talent from the Championship. These arrivals should put the club in good shape as it returns to familiar surroundings.

What I would like to see now is some physicality added in key areas. The pace and power of the Premier League found us wanting and will need to be addressed.

While the immediate priority is the promotion challenge next season, Ipswich would do well to have one eye on future requirements.

Find more from Seb Brown at the Blue Monday Podcast, external

Ipswich and England Under-21 striker Liam Delap, 22, has completed the first part of his medical as part of a £30m move to Chelsea. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read 's full gossip column

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Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

As the dust settles on the 2024-25 Premier League season, we have been taking a look at some of the alternative ways the the table could have finished...

A Premier League season can sometimes be a tale of two halves.

Some come flying out of the blocks, while others are more sluggish starters.

The busy Christmas period can be a turning point with the arrival of the January transfer window feeling like a fresh start.

So what might have happened if the league season only start on 1 January?

Well, Pep Guardiola's title-winning machines would have picked up their fifth Premier League trophy in a row.

Playing one game fewer than actual champions Liverpool - who secured the title with four games remaining - they would have finished one point clear of the Reds, not withstanding Arne Slot's side slowdown in form after sealing the title.

City always seem to come good after January, but this time it was not enough to outweigh the torrid time they had from late autumn.

The rest of the top six is not too dissimilar to the final placings, although in this case, Aston Villa would have secured Champions League football and Brighton a Europa League spot in the absence of Chelsea - whose form nose-dived at the very beginning of the year.

And while the new year is a new start for some, it is less so for others.

That was the case for many of those down the bottom of the league.

The relegated trio would still have been relegated and Manchester United and Tottenham would still have ended up in the bottom six. West Ham find themselves one place lower after Wolves picked up form under Vitor Pereira.

So what does this tell us? If you wan to achieve your Premier League ambitions, it is about making sure you are there for nine months and not just from January.

*Table data from Football365

Ipswich Town have offered Chelsea's 19-year-old Spanish forward Marc Guiu a loan deal in the Championship next season. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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We asked you to select your Ipswich player of the season from the four candidates chosen by our fan contributor.

And with the poll now closed, we can reveal the winner is... Liam Delap!

Here's what Seb Brown from the Blue Monday Podcast, external said about him:

Our top scorer of the season with 12 goals and counting.

His ability to lead the line, create chances for himself and occupy defenders is a throwback to a previous era of centre forwards.

He has been excellent this season and will have his choice of top clubs this summer.

See the final poll breakdown

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Bournemouth and Tottenham were the most physical teams in the Premier League this season when considering the distance they covered and the number of sprints performed.

The results might explain why they had a lot of injuries.

Newcastle and Brighton were not too far behind though, with Brighton actually covering the most ground in the league, with fewer sprints.

Chelsea and Liverpool's style of play saw them sprint a lot but not cover a lot of ground, while Manchester City and Arsenal were the opposite (ran a lot but didn't sprint a lot).

Nottingham Forest very much had their own style of play this season as they both ran and sprinted the least.

Manchester United have agreed the framework of a deal for Ipswich Town's Liam Delap and are now waiting for the English striker to decide on his next move. (ESPN, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Rich Woodward
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Season rating: 4/10. After a significant summer investment and coming into the season with serious momentum, to be so far adrift of the 'big 17' is a pretty major disappointment. We had a few positive moments, though, and unlike those around us stuck together despite the adversity. We'll be stronger for it.

Happy with your manager? Yes. There are things I'm sure in hindsight he could have done differently at points in the season, but Kieran McKenna is always learning and finding ways to improve. Hopefully he stays with Town and that improvement journey continues together.

Unsung hero: There will be a few of our double promotion heroes who depart this summer. One already confirmed is Massimo Luongo. The Australian joined on a free transfer in January 2023 having not made an appearance at previous club Middlesbrough. Despite this, Luongo immediately became a vital part of Town's midfield that dominated almost everyone in the EFL. Thanks Mass!

Player you would most like to sign: As noted above, our midfield department will be depleted this summer. Plus we need to address our lack of physical stature compared with the sides in the big 17. Players like that aren't typically found in our usual market in the EFL so we need to expand our scouting network to find the next Pape Sarr or Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Right now, my overriding emotion from the season is: I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed - in part at our inability to keep ourselves on the right side of the line, or at least to sustain a survival fight until the final day. Equal disappointment at what the Premier League has become in our 22 years away. Yes, it is the pinnacle, but it is also a brutal landscape which has all but left behind clubs of a modest stature now. I'm not sure that's something to be proud about.

Do you agree with Rich's answers? Pick one or two categories and send your views

Find more from Rich Woodward at the Blue Monday Podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

Here's my quick assessment of Ipswich's Premier League season - and a return to my August predictions.

Ended the season: 19th

Pre-season prediction: 20th

There were some flashes of hope, all too rarely. A return to the Premier League proved too much for Ipswich under Kieran McKenna, after the brilliant achievement of two successive promotions.

Liam Delap showed his quality but there was not enough elsewhere. He will leave, but McKenna might think he has enough for another promotion next season.

What I said in August: "It will be some feat if they stay up."

Read my assessments of the other 19 teams here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Ipswich's performance in the Premier League and the chances of promotion next season.

Here are some of your comments:

Andrew: This season was just too much for us, but a great one to experience after so long away. It will be interesting to see what Kieran does now with the team or with his position in the summer. The team needs a refresh with players that are Premier League ready should promotion be achieved although I don't think next season will be as easy as everyone believes. Leicester, Southampton, Sheffield United, Coventry and Wrexham as well as a couple of others will also be fighting at the top end.

James: It was always going to be a big ask making the step up, and so it proved. Hopefully, the majority of players stay for what will be a difficult campaign next season.

Paul: A final day that summed up the season - lacking in so many areas. Same old tactics, same old errors, nothing being learned it seems. No plan B. McKenna needs a fast start in August because nine successive home defeats is unacceptable at any level.

Robert: Here we are at the end of a dismal season. Again, we lacked drive, commitment, and a passion to win. Only five wins all season is not what the fans deserve. In most games, including here, we have been outplayed and outclassed. Some big changes are needed at the club regarding the quality of players. To be perfectly honest and blunt, I'm glad the season is over so I don't have to watch any more poor performances.

James: A disappointing end to a season that never really got going, and one of a number of displays which illustrate just why we find ourselves returning to the Championship at the first time of asking. While we again looked good in possession and had the better of the chances, we couldn't find the final ball or the finishing touch, bar one moment of magic from Nathan Broadhead. On a positive note, the team was made up of several players who could form next season's squad. With a number of key signings, particularly in midfield and up front, we should be confident of having a side that is more than capable of sustaining a serious promotion challenge once again next season.

Glen: Very poor, and there were very few games where Ipswich were at the races. Since Christmas the performances have been very poor! Based on that, losing Delap possibly, they will struggle in the Championship. Probably in the bottom half or even worse.

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's 10 final day Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea

• Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace

• Wolves 1-1 Brentford

After Ipswich's foray back into the Premier League came to a disappointing end with defeat at home by West Ham on the final day, fans have been speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk and reflecting on the season.