adminAlvaro Morata Link Sparks Shock as Ipswich Town Chase Spanish Striker Ivan Azón
Ipswich Town fans were caught off guard seeing the name of former Real Madrid, Juventus, and Chelsea striker Álvaro Morata linked with their club in the final days of the transfer window.
But while the glamorous forward with 37 goals for Spain won’t be arriving at Portman Road, his name still plays a part in Ipswich’s pursuit of a new striker.
Ipswich are indeed aiming high in the market, with former Championship Golden Boot winner Chuba Akpom closing in on a move from Ajax. However, it’s another Spanish forward—Ivan Azón—who could be the real prize.
Morata Move Could Trigger Azón’s Exit – and Ipswich Are Ready
As reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Ipswich are attempting to hijack Valencia’s move for Azón, who is ten years younger than Morata and currently on the books at Serie A side Como.
Valencia had hoped to bring the Real Zaragoza academy product back to Spain, but Kieran McKenna’s side are looking to lure him to Suffolk instead. Ipswich have launched an ambitious push to bring the Spain U21 international to Portman Road, and Morata may unintentionally aid their cause.
Azón, 22, joined Como during the 2024 January window, scoring 7 goals in 15 starts before making the switch. However, since his arrival in Italy, he hasn’t played a single minute of Serie A football.
Now, with Como targeting Morata as their next big-name addition under the Cesc Fabregas-led project, Azón appears to be surplus to requirements. A loan move could be the ideal solution for the young striker—particularly with Ipswich offering a pathway to regular game time.
Valencia Still Pushing – But Ipswich Hold Financial Edge
Despite Ipswich’s interest, Spanish outlet Super Deporte reports that Valencia remain in talks with Como and are still pushing hard to land Azón. The player himself is reportedly leaning towards the La Liga club, though Ipswich’s financial strength may be decisive.
Backed by £90 million in parachute payments following relegation from the Premier League, Ipswich are in a far stronger financial position than Valencia, who continue to struggle with limited funds.
Ipswich Close in on Akpom – But Miss Out on Hackney
It’s still unclear whether Ipswich will attempt to sign both Azón and Akpom, but Sky Sports have confirmed that Akpom is set to undergo a medical ahead of the Championship opener against Birmingham City this Friday. Ironically, Birmingham had also been keen to bring the former Middlesbrough striker in.
If Akpom completes his move in time, his debut could come in that very fixture—adding an extra layer of intrigue to an already high-stakes match at St Andrew’s.
Cajuste Deal Nearing Completion – Hackney Stays Put (For Now)
In midfield, Ipswich are set to bolster their ranks with Jens Cajuste from Napoli. The club has agreed to an £8.2 million loan-to-buy deal for the Sweden international after failing in their pursuit of Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough.
Despite Ipswich’s efforts, Boro manager Rob Edwards confirmed that Hackney will be staying—at least for now.
“Of course I’m pleased,” Edwards said. “He’s our player, his attitude is always fantastic, and I’m just delighted to have him back on the pitch.”
However, EFL Analysis suggests that Middlesbrough may still consider selling Hackney later in the window to ease financial pressures.
admin
