Ipswich Town transfer rumour: Blues eye up former Premier League striker on free deal

Ipswich Town are looking to sign former Huddersfield Town striker Steve Mounié on a free transfer, according to Africafoot.

The 29-year-old came through Montpellier's academy, scoring 14 goals in 37 league games for them while also going out on loan to Nimes in 2015/16.

Huddersfield signed him for a club-record fee of £11.5 million plus add-ons following their promotion to the Premier League in the summer of 2017.

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He scored seven top-flight goals in his first full season in Yorkshire, but struggled in the 2018/19 campaign, scoring just twice as the Terriers were relegated back to the Championship.

After spending a season with them in the second tier, he returned to Ligue 1 in 2020 as he joined Stade Brestois, scoring 30 goals in 135 games. His contract expired at the end of last month, although the Pirates are still in talks to extend it. Turkish side Konyaspor and Saudi outfit Al Ahli are also targeting him this summer.

The report claims that Ipswich are looking to sign him on a three-year deal and that discussions are ongoing with the Benin international, who has scored 17 goals in 53 appearances at senior level.

MORE: How we'll be covering the transfer window this summer

Mounie has Premier League experience from his time at Huddersfield Town (Image: PA)

Alex's verdict

The striker situation at Ipswich is quite a sensitive one. George Hirst will want regular game time, but the club are expected to spend big on another forward such as Fotis Ioannidis. That might free up Ali Al-Hamadi to leave on loan, but two strikers probably won't be enough.

With that in mind, someone like Mounié ticks a lot of boxes. He's available on a free, has Premier League experience, he's got a good goalscoring record and is a tall, physical forward.

At 29, he probably falls just outside of the preferred age range, and the reported three-year contract offer is a bit of a surprise. However, you're not going to be successful with an entire squad of players under 27, even if that's the average age you want in the squad.

This one may hinge on how much game time he would want, but if he's happy with a bit-part role where he comes off the bench and makes the occasional start, he'd be a good fit at Portman Road.

Another name to add to the 'wait and see' pile. If there's something in it, it could get done quite quickly to avoid Stade Brestois or any of the other interested parties coming in with a strong contract offer.