Ipswich and Crystal Palace are set to make improved bids worth £20m for Liverpool's 19-year-old Scotland midfielder Ben Doak, who is on loan at Middlesbrough. (Guardian, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesMatheus Cunha's offer to pay for new glasses for a member of Ipswich's security helped save him from a longer ban and heavier fine.
The Wolves striker was suspended for two games and given an £80,000 fine after clashing with a member of the Tractor Boys' security team last month.
He had been charged by the Football Association with misconduct following the altercation - where he snatched the glasses off the face of a security guard - at the final whistle of Wolves' 2-1 defeat at Molineux.
A regulatory commission initially considered hitting the 25-year-old with a £120,000 fine and a three game ban.
But in their written reasons the commission agreed Cunha's acceptance of the charge, his sincere personal apology and the offer to pay for new glasses were mitigating factors.
It also wrote: "The Commission unanimously agreed that a significant financial penalty was also appropriate, given the serious nature of the incident.
"It initially considered that a fine of £120,000 would be commensurate with the offence. However, it took account of the mitigating factors and decided to apply a similar 'discount' to that applied to the sporting sanction. It concluded that a fine of £80,000 would be appropriate."
In his witness statement Cunha explained his reasons, although the commission did not accept his version of events having studied the video evidence.
Tempers flared after Jack Taylor's injury-time header won the game for the visitors. Gary O'Neil was sacked as Wolves boss less than 24 hours later.
Cunha wrote: "As I tried to get closer to Rayan [Ait-Nouri] to make sure he was OK, I was suddenly surrounded by a lot of people. I felt like I was being shoved by the ITFC security personnel, so I shoved them back in an effort to break away from them to protect myself.
"It was never my intention to come into contact with Mr [redacted] and I certainly never meant to elbow him. I simply wanted to push him away from Rayan. Then all of a sudden, I remember Mr [redacted] turned round and had his hands on my shirt, and I shouted 'stop' but he kept hold of my shirt.
"I was surrounded by a large number of people, mainly ITFC personnel, so I remember feeling quite threatened at the time."
Richard Woodward
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesIpswich Town have trended over a point per game in their past 10 Premier League matches.
While this does not seem much to write home about (or even blog about), extrapolated over the course of the season that is nearly 42 points and probable survival.
What is more, in the five-game form table, Town are 10th. But yes, the Blues are still in the relegation zone, behind Wolves on goal difference.
These metrics, however, help paint a brighter picture for Town fans. There is one notable downward trend, though.
Kieran McKenna's survival strategy was never likely to rely on bossing possession, unlike some of our promotion peers. However, his League One team dominated 60% of the ball on average across their 2022-23 promotion campaign (the most of anyone). Even in the improbable Championship promotion season last year, Ipswich averaged more than 50% possession.
But while there has long been evocative chat around Portman Road of 'McKenna-ball', has the Northern Irishman been slowly, secretly, evolving Town into a brutally efficient counter-punch team? More akin with the strategies deployed (to mixed effect) by one of his predecessors (hello, Mick McCarthy!)?
While Ipswich's average possession of 40.3% to date currently ranks 18th in the league, McKenna's side have recently relinquished even more of the ball. For the three games before the Newcastle thrashing, Town averaged 48% possession. In the three subsequent games, it has been 28%.
In part, that is due to the calibre of opposition, but it might be more relevant in demonstrating an astute tactical shift by McKenna to frustrate opponents and attack sparingly, but brutally.
It has worked in those three post-Newcastle games - only three goals conceded (just one in open play), four goals scored, and four points on the board against top half opponents.
Hopefully it is these particular trends that continue when Premier League battle resumes in a fortnight.
Find more from Richard Woodward at the Blue Monday Podcast, external
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on Ben Godfrey, who has joined Ipswich on loan until the end of the season.
Former Town defender Mick Mills said earlier [11:28] that he did not think the signing "rectified" the problems Kieran McKenna's side faced.
Here are some of your comments:
Richard: We do need defenders who are Premier League quality. Too many times we have lost points from winning positions due to defensive errors, not because of bad play but just that lack of Premier League experience. Shore the defence up and we can look forward hopefully to another season in the top flight.
John: I think we did Mick. AxelTuanzebe is out injured and then with recovery, rehabilitation and match fitness, who knows? Harry Clarke is not up to Premier League standard, which only leaves Ben Johnson as Dara O'Shea is needed in the three.
Andrew: He has England caps and should bring quality to the team - he also covers the right side with his versatility. He faces a fight to get into the team with the last three defensive performances though! We still need a striker and a right forward.
James: It's about improving the squad. This guy has played at the top level and is proven. He will add depth to our squad - he can play centre-back, full-back and in midfield.
Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician
Image source, Getty ImagesThere is still a way to go, but it is looking a remarkably similar story for the three promoted sides this season as it was last season.
Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton have taken just 35 points from 59 games between them – the exact same amount of points Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United had on this day last year who ended up being the worst promoted trio in PL history.
Southampton being the worst-side ever at this stage does not help, but it is uncanny how similar not just points total is, but also how similar their goal differences are to last year's trio.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Ipswich defender Mick Mills spoke to BBC Radio Suffolk about the signing of Ben Godfrey on loan:
"I'm not sure that we needed another [defender] but if he wants to come and be a part of the group at the back end of the team then that's fine. He can cover injuries and loss of form.
"I don't think that's where we needed our first signing to be, but it's been made. The problem with January is finding players who are available. He was available - if we hesitated then maybe someone else would have taken him. I think we've decided that it's better to have one extra number.
"It doesn't particularly rectify the main areas that we should be strengthening - which I think is central midfield - but he will be a bonus to us.
"He's here, he wants to play, he's a decent player and it's nice to have him as part of our numbers."
What do you make of the signing, Ipswich fans? Do you agree with Mills, or do you think Godfrey can have a bigger impact on the squad?
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Fulham and Ipswich.
Here are some of your comments:
Fulham fans
Will: Probably a fair result. We need to take worse teams seriously or we will continue to falter. We can beat Chelsea away but not Southampton or Ipswich at home. We need to win the next few games to get back on it. Also, hats off to Raul Jimenez for keeping calm under pressure.
Terry: It was a poor performance by Fulham. Although they dominated possession, they had difficulty breaking down Ipswich's defence. Fulham should have had a penalty in the first half and then Town gave away a soft penalty in second half. They were very lucky to escape with a draw. Fulham clearly struggle against teams in bottom five.
Chris: When you line up with a goalkeeper, five defenders and two holding midfielders against a team in the relegation zone is it any wonder you don't score goals? You need more than three players trying to get in the other team's penalty area.
John: Wasn't Fulham's best day with the concession of two cheap goals and a failure to work the Ipswich keeper enough despite 73% possession. Still showed the resilience to come back against a side who are comfortably the best of the promoted teams and have a genuine chance of survival. Might have been a different outcome if the referee had sent Leif Davis off as he should have. The fact he also missed the foul for our first penalty lends credence to Marco Silva's post-match comments on his performance .
Ipswich fans
Bruce: I would've taken one point but it stings to have three points taken away like they were. I can't see how either penalty was fair on Christian Walton, but that's football. We're going to need some good stuff to get a point out of the rest of January, and those three points really would have made the table look rosier. I back Kieran McKenna and back the squad - they really look like they belong, but they need to see out games like this.
Alex: Great game. We should have won that, if not for some silly mistakes! Liam Delap is on form again.
James: It's hard to know whether to look on this as one point gained or two points dropped, having taken the lead twice. I think that, on reflection, we should be pleased with the result against a solid top-half team. More importantly, we should be proud of another excellent all-round performance. On another day, Jack Clarke's strike goes in off the post and we aren't left to rue a second penalty decision against us, but it's a sign of our undoubted progress over the season that we are disappointed with just the one point.
Tim: Generally a great performance. We were set up so well but conceded two penalties that were both naive. Davis didn't get back in time, arrived late and made a poor decision that cost us the three points. Overall, I'm pleased with a solid performance and a hard fought point.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Premier League striker Alan Shearer highlighted Liam Delap as Ipswich's standout performer against Fulham:
"As a centre-forward, I always said to myself that you have to be aggressive. You have to come off the pitch and ask yourself if you've give the centre-halves a tough afternoon. There is no doubt that he can say that after this game.
"He held the ball up, he ran in behind and when his team were under pressure he won free-kicks to ease that pressure. He was a nuisance to play against. I loved his aggression right from the off.
"He has got eight goals this season and Ipswich have only scored 20 themselves. That tells you how impressive he has been. You've got a really confident, young footballer who is only going to get better.
"We're not blessed with English strikers ad there's no doubt Thomas Tuchel will have a good look at him."
Highlights and analysis from Sunday's two Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.
If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.
Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesIpswich may have ended up having to settle for one point rather than three but this was another encouraging display.
Despite allowing Fulham almost 73% possession, they restricted the home side to very few chances in open play.
They defended resolutely and when the opportunity to counter-attack presented itself, there was no hesitation in getting numbers forward to support Liam Delap.
Sammie Szmodics' opener was a prime example of that with wing-back Ben Johnson advanced enough to ghost in at the far post and head Nathan Broadhead's cross onto the bar in the lead up.
Delap was a handful throughout and Broadhead also came close to doubling Ipswich's lead before the first of Raul Jimenez's two penalties for Fulham.
The manner in which Ipswich responded to the the first of those two spot kicks could not have been better.
They were quickly on the front foot to win a penalty of their own, which Delap buried.
Not managing to hold onto to take all three points will undoubtedly frustrate Ipswich and closing out such matches could prove crucial if they are to stay up.
But equally, so too could hard-fought points on the road. Especially if they can maintain the performance level shown in their last two games.
Image source, Getty ImagesIpswich boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to Sky Sports after the game: "When you lead twice, you always feel a little bit disappointed not to win. I'm so proud of the way we played. We had some chances to get a two-goal margin but we weren't able to take them.
"It's frustrating. Look, we look on this game and the last game with a lot of pride in what we are doing and we will keep on going.
"We had to defend a lot and I thought we managed the second half well. The players are right in it together and are approaching the games in the right manner.
"I don't know where we are exactly in the table. We are just focusing on ourselves.
"We've got a little pause for the FA Cup and then we look forward to Brighton and Manchester City."
On signing Ben Godfrey on loan: "We wanted to add to that area. Ben is a good player and an experienced player.
"That will be a good boost for us in the second half of this season."
Image source, Getty ImagesNo team have conceded more goals through penalties in the Premier League so far this season than Ipswich Town, with all five spot kicks they have conceded being converted.
With just 2 minutes and 44 seconds between Raul Jimenez equalizing from the penalty spot for Fulham in the 69th minute and Liam Delap putting Ipswich ahead from his spot kick in the 71st minute, it was the shortest gap on record between two penalty goals in a single half of a Premier League game (since 2006-07).
Chelsea's Cole Palmer (13) is the only Englishman to score more goals than Ipswich Town's Liam Delap (8) in the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.
Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?
Fulham fans - what did you make of the game?
Ipswich supporters - let us know your thoughts
Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 20, he takes on The Zutons frontman Dave McCabe, who supports Liverpool.
Sutton's prediction: 1-0
Well done to Ipswich. I have got to give one of my daughter's teachers, Mr Fields, another mention here after the Tractor Boys beat Chelsea on Monday for their first home win of the season.
He will have had the bunting out, and the champagne too - and deservedly so.
As I've said before, I like this Ipswich team. They have got a lot about them and they are giving it a real go to try to stay in the Premier League.
You cannot overestimate the importance of them getting off the mark at Portman Road, but I don't see them following it up with another success on Sunday.
Fulham let me down badly by letting their lead slip late on at home to Bournemouth on Sunday, but they are usually pretty reliable at Craven Cottage.
Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi form such a wonderful combination down the left for Marco Silva's side, and I think they will help them secure a narrow home win.
McCabe's prediction: 2-0
Fulham are a pain in the backside. You feel like you should beat them, but they never seem to go away in games.
As we enter a new calendar year and the halfway point of the season, the Opta Supercomputer has been busy making its predictions.
But who is looking most likely to be playing their football outside the top flight next season?
It is bad news for fans of the teams who made their return to the Premier League this campaign.
According to the Opta Supercomputer's simulations, Southampton - rooted to the bottom of the table on just six points - are all but guaranteed to be playing Championship football again next term with a 99.47% chance of being relegated.
The picture is also not a rosy one for Leicester City and Ipswich Town supporters, who occupy the other two relegation spots. The Supercomputer does not see too much change there - the Foxes and the Tractor Boys having a 74.61% and 70.81% chance of relegation respectively.
It is better news for Wolves under new head coach Vitor Pereira, with Wanderers now having only a 39.21% chance of a Championship return, while Everton fans will be pleased to see they have just a 12.52% chance as they hope to see Premier League football in their new stadium next season.
Crystal Palace, West Ham and Brentford can all breathe easier with Opta predicting just a 1.68%, 0.81% and 0.72% chance of relegation respectively.
And what about Manchester United after new boss Ruben Amorim declared them to be facing a relegation battle? Well, it is good news for Red Devils fans as the chance of them actually playing Championship football next campaign is just 0.11%.
Image source, Getty ImagesIpswich Town boss Kieran McKenna says it would be a "big advantage" if they can get their transfer business done early this window.
His comments come amid reports the Tractor Boys are looking at moves for both Aston Villa winger Jaden Philogene and Atalanta defender Ben Godfrey.
Philogene was a summer target for the club before he instead moved back to former side Villa from Hull City, while former Norwich City centre-back Godfrey could be set for a loan return to East Anglia after moving to Serie A from Everton in the summer.
"Discussions started a long time ago, but getting players in at the start of January is another matter," McKenna said on Friday.
"Each club has their own needs. Things can change really, really quickly at the end of December. Games come thick and fast - players come into the team, come out of the team. Players who you thought might be available are unavailable. Players who you thought were unavailable might become available.
"We are going to try to do our business early in the window if possible.
"We know that would be a big advantage, but we also know we need to be ready right through the month to improve the squad when the opportunities come.
"Certainly by the end of January we need to make sure that the squad is of the appropriate size and we want everyone who is still in the building to have a chance of playing and contributing in the Premier League games."
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Fulham (kick-off 14:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
McKenna confirmed Conor Chaplin has picked up a "knock" to his knee and will be out for "a couple of weeks".
He also confirmed they have other players that will need to be assessed as they are "touch and go" and the side need "everyone to be in the best condition possible" for an "intense" game.
On if there is a possibility of bringing Jaden Philogene to the club this transfer window: "My focus is on the players that we have here. We're still working really hard with the players that we have, the players that we've had for a long time and the players that joined us in the summer. That's where my focus is."
He added: "Of course we're trying to add to the squad in this window, as every team is. We want to make the squad better, not just for the second half of the season but for the long term, so we're going to look to do that in the best way possible."
On if they need to bring in a striker to support Liam Delap: "It's an area [up front] we need to add to. It's an area we wanted to add to in the summer window. Earlier in the summer, we made some good additions but we still would have liked to have added maybe one or two more pieces in forward areas."
McKenna continued: "Of course, over the first 19 games, George Hirst missed maybe 11 or 12 of them. That's a big loss and it's put a big burden on Liam Delap as a really young striker. Thankfully he's handled that burden well but we still want to add in different areas of the pitch and we want to add more goals in the forward area if possible."
Asked if 2024 was his best year in football, the Ipswich boss said he has had "a few good ones lately": "Every year is a privilege to be involved in football at any level."
On if he has seen his team's resilience grow this season: "I've seen it pretty consistently to be honest. Every time we have had a setback over the past three years, I have generally been happy with the response. We knew the setbacks were going to be a little more frequent this year or a little bit different. But generally we have shown that [resilience]."
Catch up on all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Listen to full commentary of Fulham v Ipswich Town from 14:00 GMT on Sunday on BBC Radio 5 Live
Image source, Getty ImagesIpswich forward Liam Delap has seven Premier League goals this season, which is the most by a player for any of the three promoted clubs this campaign.
