'Braver' and 'better' - key names on Ipswich's transfer approach

[Getty Images] This time around, chairman Mark Ashton says Ipswich have to be "a bit braver" in their approach to the Premier League, and the type of players the club are pursuing reflects that increased ambition. Japanese attacker Daizen Maeda and Morocco centre-back Issa Diop were both on target at the World Cup this summer, and a third goalscorer from that tournament could follow. The Tractor Boys have been linked with a move for Paraguayan forward Julio Enciso, who played under O'Neil at Strasbourg last season and had an injury-blighted loan spell at Portman Road during the second half of 2024-25. While Kieran McKenna had enough credit in the bank to play the long game when promoted, Gary O'Neil knows he needs to forge a competitive side quickly. "Two seasons ago, the club didn't get anywhere near staying in the division and this time we need to do better," he said last month. "That's why we're trying to add quality to the squad from different parts of the world and we're trying to add some different attributes." The former Bournemouth and Wolves boss indicated after Saturday's 3-0 win against Rayo Vallecano that more incomings are likely, saying the "plan is to do quite a bit more". [BBC] Read more on Ipswich's transfer business