Summer Transfer Window 2026

[Rebel]

 would anyone swap one of Manning or Welington for Target on a free?

[UpweySaint]

1 minute ago, Rebel said:

 would anyone swap one of Manning or Welington for Target on a free?

It depends on finances for me. if Wellington attracted a reasonable fee and Targett was up for joining to compete with Manning without wanting top whack then yeah, sure. Manning has his moments but he was an important part of the way we played under Tonda, Wellington I’m still not sure about either way. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

27 minutes ago, Rebel said:

 would anyone swap one of Manning or Welington for Target on a free?

I don't see Targett as much. And I recall him as decent enough. But as Upweysaint said, Manning is doing well under Tonda (and did well  under Russ at Swansea). Welington is a decent back up, offering some different strengths. So, it would be an upgrade in some areas, but probably not enough for me.

[Lighthouse]

36 minutes ago, Rebel said:

 would anyone swap one of Manning or Welington for Target on a free?

Can’t really see much point to that, either in terms of playing talent or financial benefit.

[CSA96]

 

[davefizzy14]

4 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

 

Looks like we are looking to get this one done along with Dobbin.

[beatlesaint]

7 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

 

Not a great record but after the way Larin turned out I’m trusting the process 😬

[CSA96]

Spain U21 forward (now 23). 5 goals and 4 assists last season, mainly from the bench. Looks like he made 38 appearances but just over half of those were sub appearances. Interestingly he was getting more and more minutes as the season drew to a close and Ipswich were chasing auto promotion

Edited 4 hours ago by CSA96

[Cuddles]

https://www.twtd.co.uk/forum/630822/ivan-azon--now-officially-the-most-wasteful-striker-in-the-division/page:1

#awks

[Saint Matty 76]

Not much in terms of good reading on the guy, but Johannes has earned some trust from me even in spite of the Damion mistake.

If he’s no good, Larin remains the starter. 

[qwertyell]

No-one going to make an Ivan the Terrible quip?

I guess I'll have to step up, then. 

(Seems a decent hold up player and physical presence - which is what we need - and with a season of Championship football under his belt, should be well-adjusted to the league. Not the worst link.)

[HarvSFC]

Was worried we were going to regress a bit and put all our eggs in the Larin shaped basked regarding profile of striker we know we're in need of. Not little runners who get muscled out of games like Adam Armstrong and Archer. But, this guy seems to have those strong attributes, even if not the best finisher it looks like he puts himself a bit. He'll rotate with Larin, like Stewart did. The one in the best form gets the shirt.

AI Overview:

On the popular Ipswich Town fan forum TWTD, fan consensus regarding striker Iván Azón is highly divided. While supporters praise his work ethic, physical presence, and "lovely character," he has also drawn heavy criticism for his finishing, with some match threads labeling him as wasteful in front of goal during his loan spell. 

Azón spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Portman Road from Italian club Como. He made 38 appearances and scored 5 goals across all competitions, helping the Tractor Boys secure a 2nd-place finish and promotion. With that promotion, his €15 million buy obligation clause was reportedly activated. 

Despite his contributions to the promotion campaign, recent discussions on forums like TWTD focus heavily on whether he has the clinical quality needed for the Premier League. Recent reports indicate that the club might be fielding interest from other sides, making his permanent future at Ipswich a major talking point among the fanbase.

[Chez]

2 hours ago, Rebel said:

 would anyone swap one of Manning or Welington for Target on a free?

interesting question.

Personally I have always thought that Target was very limited and a championship player at best. He's slow and lightweight. Manning has shown that he's decent enough at this level, so Target wouldn't be an upgrade. Wellington is not a great defender. He gets too tight and is done far too easily. There's a reason he couldn't get in that shite relegation side. He's OK as cover for Manning at this level, but that's it.

I think the ideal scenario is we keep what we have, get promoted and then take a stab at finding a young propsect/PL talent. If someone wants to buy Wellington now, then we can try and do that a season early.

[Hopper]

I know we all love xG chat here. He massively underperformed with an xG of 11.20. At the least this shows he gets into good positions and has something about him. If we can get him finishing we might have a diamond in the rough.

Edited 4 hours ago by Hopper

[HarvSFC]

 

1:30, he gets the better of THB and Wood and sets up the Ipswich opener. We're targeting players who hurt us last season. 😉

Also, we would have got a good look at him training at Eastleigh. 😂

[qwertyell]

4 minutes ago, Hopper said:

I know we all love xG chat here. He massively underperformed with an xG of 11.20. At the least this shows he gets into good positions and has something about him. If we can get him finishing we might have diamond in the rough.

Yeah, I'm less worried about strikers who miss chances than strikers who are nowhere to be seen when the chances arrive. 

I think it's probably easier to improve the former than the latter. 

[Chez]

26 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Spain U21 forward (now 23). 5 goals and 4 assists last season, mainly from the bench. Looks like he made 38 appearances but just over half of those were sub appearances. Interestingly he was getting more and more minutes as the season drew to a close and Ipswich were chasing auto promotion

5 goals in 20 starts and 20 sub appearances...for the second best team in the league. Not brilliant, but he's only 23, so still time for him to blossom.

I notice he played 75 minutes in that very good game at SMS at the end of the season. He helped set up their first goal by winning a header against THB, but I don't recall him being a massive threat. Ipswich only started to look a good side when he went off didn't they?

[Yozzman]

6 minutes ago, Chez said:

Personally I have always thought that Target was very limited and a championship player at best. 

You mean the Matt Targett who has played 164 PL games and is 6 foot.

[Danbert]

3 minutes ago, Yozzman said:

You mean the Matt Targett who has played 164 PL games and is 6 foot.

A very good crosser as I remember, but not the quickest

[Turkish]

19 minutes ago, Cuddles said:

https://www.twtd.co.uk/forum/630822/ivan-azon--now-officially-the-most-wasteful-striker-in-the-division/page:1

#awks

If we keep Baz we’ll have the most wasteful shot converter and the least economical glovesman 

[bugenhagen]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

If we keep Baz we’ll have the most wasteful shot converter and the least economical glovesman 

They should train together. Somehow both will gain confidence!

[LocationRemot3]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

If we keep Baz we’ll have the most wasteful shot converter and the least economical glovesman 

The Southampton Way ™

[CSA96]

26 minutes ago, Hopper said:

I know we all love xG chat here. He massively underperformed with an xG of 11.20. At the least this shows he gets into good positions and has something about him. If we can get him finishing we might have a diamond in the rough.

I remember reading a book about analytics in professional sport and it was saying that recruitment teams and data analysts do tend to prefer these guys who are proving wasteful but have a superior expected return, compared to guys who convert on a lower clip, where the data will suggest that they aren’t getting into the right areas as often. Azon would tally with that thinking

[hypochondriac]

Seems like an awful lot of money again and makes me worried that we are going to go on a selling spree in order to fund this. Doesn't seem worth the money to me but Spors has earnt some trust from everyone so hopefully he's decent.

[CB Fry]

44 minutes ago, Hopper said:

I know we all love xG chat here. He massively underperformed with an xG of 11.20. At the least this shows he gets into good positions and has something about him. If we can get him finishing we might have a diamond in the rough.

#moneyball

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, CB Fry said:

#moneyball

Surely if it was moneyball we'd be paying below the odds for an unfashionable player?

[Fabrice29]

7 hours ago, Pilchards said:

I meant Jay Robinson.

As a defensive midfielder?

[Fabrice29]

Really liked the Como/Ipswich lad last season every time I saw him. Assumed he’d scored more than that but was always impressed.

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Really liked the Como/Ipswich lad last season every time I saw him. Assumed he’d scored more than that but was always impressed.

What was impressive about him? Genuinely asking as I didn't see much of him.

[Fabrice29]

3 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

What was impressive about him? Genuinely asking as I didn't see much of him.

Movement, power, always seemed like a threat and a nuisance. Must have caught him on his better days I guess

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Movement, power, always seemed like a threat and a nuisance. Must have caught him on his better days I guess

I suppose he would be a good backup to Larin in that case. Seems like an awful lot of cash for that role though. I was thinking more like 5 million for a younger player with potential. In Spors we trust though I guess 

[Saint Pete]

1 hour ago, CSA96 said:

 

This seems positive to me. Definitely looks like the Stewart replacement who we can use to rotate with Larin which is what we need. And if as it seems we are signing both this guy and Dobbin, then that indicates Dobbin is intended primarily in other forward positions or in support of Larin or Azon if we go 2 up top in some games. Also must mean both Archer and Downs will be moved on one way or another you would think.

Not a stellar goals record but Larin didn't have that either. And some of the comments of Ipswich fans posted above actually give me hope as sounds like he is another that contributes well to the team in other ways like we have seen with Larin/Stewart, which is important to how we play. 

[SuperSAINT]

14 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Movement, power, always seemed like a threat and a nuisance. Must have caught him on his better days I guess

A championship Tevez ? (without the goals)

Edited 2 hours ago by SuperSAINT

[Gloucester Saint]

4 hours ago, Challenger said:

Course they do. It's like Which magazine, Trip Advisor or Punternet only it's just for players.

This is a bit of variation on What House? And What Car? as well https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Whatmuff

[Turkish]

17 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I suppose he would be a good backup to Larin in that case. Seems like an awful lot of cash for that role though. I was thinking more like 5 million for a younger player with potential. In Spors we trust though I guess 

Similar to what we paid for Double D. I’m going to take this that those that matter don’t think he’s good enough 

[ally_uk]

Nah not for me I'd rather put a bid in for Salech or someone of that Calibre. 

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, HarvSFC said:

 

1:30, he gets the better of THB and Wood and sets up the Ipswich opener. We're targeting players who hurt us last season. 😉

Also, we would have got a good look at him training at Eastleigh. 😂

Good assist out of very little in fairness.

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, qwertyell said:

Yeah, I'm less worried about strikers who miss chances than strikers who are nowhere to be seen when the chances arrive. 

I think it's probably easier to improve the former than the latter. 

You must have loved Che Adams then...

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

5 goals in 20 starts and 20 sub appearances...for the second best team in the league. Not brilliant, but he's only 23, so still time for him to blossom.

I notice he played 75 minutes in that very good game at SMS at the end of the season. He helped set up their first goal by winning a header against THB, but I don't recall him being a massive threat. Ipswich only started to look a good side when he went off didn't they?

Targett and Manning would be a very potent left side for the season. Lethal set piece delivery at all times.

[Fabrice29]

30 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I suppose he would be a good backup to Larin in that case. Seems like an awful lot of cash for that role though. I was thinking more like 5 million for a younger player with potential. In Spors we trust though I guess 

I think like last season we’ll be rotating rather than having back ups. Don’t think money/comparable value really exists in football much now anyway so idea that you can only spend a certain amount on a role seems a bit silly to me.

Obviously this will sound a little silly and it’s a big if but if he nets a few more of the chances he’s missed for Ipswich last season we wouldn’t be thinking of him as a ‘back up’ or ‘slot of money‘ at that price. We have to sign these players before they reach that so called value and underlying numbers is a good barometer of that sometimes.

Anyway, no idea if it’s true or if he’ll work out. 

[lambtiss]

2 hours ago, CSA96 said:

 

I’d be delighted if he was the Damian Downs replacement and we are still looking at a Ross Stewart replacement 

[Hopper]

1 hour ago, CB Fry said:

#moneyball

 

Yep. Profile of player we're looking at definitely screams moneyball. £7-10M bets spread across overlooked or high potential talent.

23 Years old both Dobbin and Azon too. Perhaps we've learnt our lesson on going too young and switched filters 😂

[Badger]

Pleased with the type of the forward we’re looking at here, 6’plus, with some pedigree although has to be said not proven. 

For the money though I think we could have attracted a CF with a bit more of a record (perhaps at this level), and potential to improve. The Millwall pair of Coburn and Ivanovic (before his injury) for example. 
 

But as said, Spors record of signings (Downs aside) is good so let’s hope this bloke if he signs is more of a Larin.  

[Badger]

Perhaps we’re also trying to give Adam some nightmares, with Azaz and Azon in the same side.

Dave Merrington might not be pleased if he were still on Solent. 

[MarkSFC]

Being "wasteful" isn't always a lack of ability,if being judged over a small timeframe, and could easily be a confidence/form thing. 

I guess we will find out🤞😂

[Turkish]

1 minute ago, Badger said:

Perhaps we’re also trying to give Adam some nightmares, with Azaz and Azon in the same side.

Dave Merrington might not be pleased if he were still on Solent. 

If we can get Azeez from Millwall we’ll have the full set 

[Harry_SFC]

23 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

I’d be delighted if he was the Damian Downs replacement and we are still looking at a Ross Stewart replacement 

Probably more likely an Archer replacement tbh. Downs doesn't need replacing because he didn't even exist even when he played. 

Larin, Azon plus another (Lankshear?) and I'd be happy with that as striking options. 

[James]

Quite like the sound of Azon. He’s young and seems to have decent pedigree. Good movement but sounds like finishing needs some work which is doable. I’d like us to sign Lankshear too assuming we ditch Archer and/or Downs. I can’t really understand folks suggesting this is “massive” money for us. 8/9m for a striker really isn’t much these days. 

[Badger]

7 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Probably more likely an Archer replacement tbh. Downs doesn't need replacing because he didn't even exist even when he played. 

Larin, Azon plus another (Lankshear?) and I'd be happy with that as striking options. 

Id have thought Dobbin was the Archer replacement.

Lankshear: can’t see that happening. If Spurs let him go on loan they’ll want assurances that he’ll be playing regularly. Doubt we’d give that promise or commitment with Larin and Azon here. 

[Starksj1995]

Why we panicking over Leo he won’t be going unless we get a bid north of 35M