McKenna’s a fan: Ipswich now making moves to sign “electric” £50m forward

Ipswich Town are stepping up their January transfer plans as they explore a move for an “electric” forward valued at around £50m, with the club keen to strengthen their push for promotion.

Ipswich eye statement January move

The Tractor Boys closed the gap on second-placed Middlesbrough to just five points with a convincing 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road on Saturday, underlining their growing momentum in the Championship.

Approaching the midway point of the season, Kieran McKenna’s side are firmly in the promotion picture. Ipswich have been particularly potent going forward, scoring 38 league goals so far — the second-highest tally in the division.

Wide players Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke have contributed 15 goals between them, giving McKenna plenty of attacking quality.

However, adding another winger remains a priority in the upcoming transfer window, and a bold target has now emerged.

According to Football Insider, Ipswich have begun making moves for Tottenham Hotspur attacker Brennan Johnson, with Spurs open to the possibility of allowing the Welsh international to leave during the winter window.

Competition for Johnson’s signature is expected to be fierce. Crystal Palace have already expressed interest, while Brentford are also monitoring the situation.

Any permanent transfer would come at a significant cost, with reports suggesting Tottenham could demand a fee in the region of £50m.

Such a sum would be prohibitive for a Championship side, so Ipswich are instead exploring the possibility of a loan deal in January.

“Electric” Johnson would be a huge boost

Landing Johnson would represent a major coup for Ipswich. The 24-year-old has already demonstrated his quality at the highest level, most notably scoring the winning goal in last season’s Europa League final against Manchester United.

He also enjoyed a productive Premier League campaign in 2024-25, registering 11 goals and five assists in 33 appearances, further underlining his attacking threat.

McKenna has previously spoken highly of the Tottenham forward, saying: “He’s certainly having a big impact on the Tottenham side at the moment with his directness off the ball, his movement to get behind, his ability to create chances, and his movement to score opportunities. He’s very, very good.”

Praise has also come from elsewhere, with The Athletic’s Paul Taylor describing Johnson as “electric”.

Despite Ipswich’s ambition, convincing Johnson to drop into the Championship appears a tall order, particularly with several Premier League clubs also vying for his signature.