Ipswich Town

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It seems inevitable a host of Premier League managers will point to fixture congestion in the months to come.

When injuries mount, or when time on the training ground is squeezed, coaches often reference the intense nature of the calendar.

But research conducted by the respected CIES Football Observatory has delivered data which shows clubs are - on average - not playing more competitive games than they have in the last couple of decades.

The CIES looked at 677 clubs across 40 leagues. In looking at a period from 2012 to 2024, its findings show in 2023-24, the average club played 42.4 competitive matches. In 2014-15 that figure was 42.6 and in 2020-21 it hit 43.9.

And if focus is placed on sides competing in the Champions League, data gathered between 2000 and 2024 also shows sides are not setting fixture records in the current game, as some managers may like to loosely imply.

In looking at the five major European Leagues, the CIES claim Champions League competitors played an average of 50.8 matches last season.

In 2020-21 they averaged 57.9 and in 2002-03 they contested 55.2.

Manchester United played in 52 competitive games last season, down from highs of 71 in 2020-21 and 66 in 2008-09.

Across all of the clubs analysed, only 4% played more than 60 games last season. In 2012-13, the figure stood at 5.1%.

While clubs may play added friendlies and - it would be fair to say - individual matches tend to be longer given increased injury time in the current game, the data shows that competitive fixture numbers are flat or have in most cases fallen, even if disgruntled managers say otherwise.

The full study is here, external

We asked for your thoughts on the signing of goalkeeper Arijanet Muric on a four-year deal from Burnley for a fee believed to be worth up to £15m.

Here are some of your responses:

Michael: Another shrewd acquisition. Good background, international experience and played at Burnley in the same footballing way Kieran McKenna likes. Room to develop too at 25. If we can get another defensive midfielder then we will have ticked all the boxes...

Peter: Let's hope he works out as I feel he will be needed in the coming season. Nowadays, goalkeepers need to be good with their feet and, coming from Manchester City, let's hope that is a given. Although I panic with our high-risk approach of playing out from the back, l love it. We don't need a lot more - let's build and give the current team a chance.

Paul: A top-class keeper. I was surprised he only featured in 10 matches for Burnley after playing a key role in their promotion the year before. His experience internationally is also a big plus. Still think we need one more central defender and defensive midfielder (with some PL experience if possible) for depth. So far, a very good transfer window.

Glen: This is great business for the fee. Lots of experience. A young, tall keeper who is good with his feet and will fit in perfectly to our playing style. Looking forward to watching him between the sticks.

Noah: Premier League quality is what we needed. Well done, Ipswich.

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New Ipswich Town goalkeeper Arijanet Muric says it is the "perfect move" for him to come to Portman Road.

The 25-year-old has joined the Tractor Boys on a four-year deal from Burnley for a fee believed to be worth up to £15m.

The Swiss-born Kosovo international made 55 appearances for the Clarets during his two seasons at the club, helping them win promotion in 2022-23, before featuring 10 times last term as they were relegated from the Premier League.

Muric will be joining Kieran McKenna's side as they return to the top flight for the first time since 2002 following their runners-up finish in Championship.

"I'm excited to have joined the club and am looking forward to getting started," the Manchester City academy graduate told TownTV.

"I watched how the team played last season and feel the style will suit me very well, so this is the perfect move for me."

Muric is Ipswich's fifth signing of the summer, following Omari Hutchinson, Liam Delap, Ben Johnson and Jacob Greaves' moves to Portman Road.

The Tractor Boys start their league campaign at home to Liverpool on 17 August.

What do you think about the Muric signing, Ipswich fans? And what else is needed this summer?

Have your say here, external

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The football never stops.

Euro 2024 has barely finished but Premier League clubs have already started turning their attention to pre-season friendlies.

The games are spread across the globe, from Tokyo and New York to Sligo and Crawley.

So who will your team face? And when and where are the matches?

Keep across all the fixtures and results here

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Ipswich Town will face Nice in their final pre-season game before the start of the 2024-25 campaign.

The Blues will host the French side, who finished fifth in Ligue 1 last season, at Portman Road on Saturday, 10 August (12.30 BST kick-off).

It completes a pre-season programme of five friendlies for Kieran McKenna's side before he leads Ipswich into the top flight for the first time in 22 years.

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Ipswich new boy Liam Delap says he was attracted by the "quick and intense" style of football played by Kieran McKenna's side.

The 21-year-old striker completed his transfer from Manchester City on a five-year contract on Saturday.

Delap made two appearances for Pep Guardiola's side in the Premier League and spent last season on loan with Hull City in the Championship, scoring eight goals.

McKenna told Ipswich Town's official website, external that Delap has the "qualities to help the team this season" and will be "an important player for the club for many years to come".

He added: "He is a player with outstanding physical and technical attributes who has a hunger to come here and continue to learn and improve."

Delap said: "The manager here likes to play exciting football. It's quick and intense and I am looking forward to that.

"I want to bring goals and assists and I'll work as hard as I can to help the team.

"I have heard so many good things about the feeling around the club, and how the players and staff work. That’s exactly why I’m excited to be here."

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Ipswich Town have agreed a deal worth up to £15m to sign Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.

The Tractor Boys will pay an initial £10m for the Kosovo international, with add-ons of up to £5m.

The 25-year-old, who joined Burnley from Manchester City in July 2022, was second choice to James Trafford last season.

He won his place back and played the final 10 games, but was unable to prevent the Clarets being relegated to the Championship.

Ipswich were looking for a new goalkeeper after Vaclav Hladky left the club at the end of the season after his contract expired.

Boss Kieran McKenna has already signed Omari Hutchinson, Ben Johnson, Jacob Greaves and Liam Delap this summer.

Graeme McLoughlin
BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor

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Jacob Greaves is a signing that definitely fits the current profile of player Town are looking for and ticks a lot of boxes.

He only turns 24 in September so you would think his best playing days are still to come - yet he already has more than 200 appearances to his name.

He is certainly one to place in the 'it will be interesting to see how much more he can improve under Kieran McKenna' file.

It remains to be seen whether Greaves will be an immediate first choice, but either way he will provide strong competition for last season's regular starters Cameron Burgess and Luke Woolfenden, along with Axel Tuanzebe.

He can also play at left-back, so does that mean Kieran McKenna is less likely to recruit a specialist in that role who can cover for Leif Davis? Again, we will wait and see.

It obviously looks less likely now that Jaden Philogene will follow Greaves in making the switch from Humberside to Suffolk - but I actually think this is a signing that Town maybe needed more.

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New Ipswich Town defender Jacob Greaves says he is "absolutely delighted" to have made the switch to Portman Road after completing his move from Championship side Hull City.

The 23-year-old came through the Tigers academy but has signed a five-year deal with the Tractor Boys.

He first made his league debut in October 2020 and played 177 times for Hull, scoring six goals and providing eight assists. Last season, he made the Sky Bet Championship Team of the Season and picked up Hull's Player of the Year award.

"I'm absolutely delighted to have signed," Greaves told club media. "As soon as I heard about the interest, I was keen to get the move over the line. Now that it's done, I am really happy.

"I've spoken to Kieran [McKenna] several times and those conversations have made me very excited for the future here. We spoke about tactics, playing style and life off the pitch and every time we've spoken it's been spot on.

"I'm excited to have the opportunity to step up to the Premier League and I cannot wait to get started."

The centre-back will link up with his new team-mates straight away as they head to Austria for pre-season training.

Tractor Boys boss McKenna said: "We are delighted to have brought Jacob to the club and are excited to have him as part of the squad.

"He is a very talented, technical and athletic left-sided defender who has performed very well in the Championship and is ready to make the step up to the Premier League at this point in his career.

"We feel this is the right environment and club for him to do that and he is a good character who will bring qualities to the group and culture we have built here."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport Football News Reporter

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Aston Villa and Ipswich target Jaden Philogene has joined his Hull team-mates on their pre-season trip to Turkey.

The 22-year-old was initially left behind by the Tigers after Villa matched Town's £18m offer earlier this week.

But the England Under-21 international has now re-joined the squad at their training base Riva, just north of Istanbul.

Villa sold the 22-year-old to the Tigers last September but retained a buy-back option under certain conditions.

It is understood Villa inserted a clause meaning they would have three days to match any bid once a deal had been agreed.

Newly promoted Ipswich had their £18m offer accepted by Hull and Villa moved to bring Philogene back to Villa Park after less than a year away.

He came through the academy at Villa and made just six appearances before moving to the Tigers.

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Ipswich Town will play Borussia Monchengladbach and Hoffenheim over two days as part of preparations for the 2024-25 season.

The Tractor Boys will travel to Germany for a short pre-season camp that will see them play Gladbach on Friday 2 August and Hoffenheim the following day.

Kick-offs are at 13:30 and 12:30 BST respectively.

The camp will take place after a friendly against Shakhtar Donetsk and Fortuna Dusseldorf's visit to Portman Road.

English centre-back Jacob Greaves, 23, has completed his Ipswich Town medical ahead of a potential move from Hull City. (Sky Sports), external

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

We asked for your views on Ipswich Town targets Jaden Philogene and Liam Delap, including how the duo will fare at Portman Road and if they will help the Tractor Boys' chances of staying in the Premier League this season.

Here are some of your responses:

Peter: This will be a good move for both of them. They will be brilliantly coached and get decent minutes. We play attractive, front-foot football and, even if we play a slightly more defensive style than we have in the past two seasons, I expect us to look electric and very dangerous going forward, especially with the pace we are bringing into the side.

Dan: Philogene will provide great support in those wide areas and I would imagine he starts most games. However, I struggle to see Delap having much of an impact. He is a great young prospect, but I would prefer Che Adams on a free transfer.

Dave: If true, it is a great pairing to provide the required support through the middle of the pitch and beyond. It is helped by the fact that they have already been working closely together, so the settling in period should also be reduced. I'm excited by all of the new signings so far, and I'm hopeful for more!

Terry: They sound great on paper and so far Kieran McKenna's signings haven't really failed, but these won't make much difference if he is unable to sign a Premier League goalkeeper.

Michael: A positive and calculated gamble. They are young with good pedigree, decent game experience and they played a similar style of football with Hull last season. There is room for them to grow and develop too, so hopefully a solid investment. I still worry about our goalkeeper and defensive midfield though.

Paul: It's a bit scary seeing so much money spent on quite inexperienced players, but that seems to be the going rate. I expect the club can accommodate and budget for the salaries of these players, and they will be super hungry for success. We have to trust McKenna and his team.

It is looking like Ipswich Town are about to sign Hull City's Jaden Philogene and Manchester City's Liam Delap for combined fees of about £38m.

So, if the deals do go through as expected, how do you think the pair will fare at Portman Road? What impact would they have have on the Tractor Boys' chances of staying in the Premier League this season?

Have your say here, external