Ipswich Town midfielder could leave Portman Road by 7pm - Oxford United on red alert | OneFootball

Cameron Humphreys could still leave Portman Road on loan

Ipswich Town midfielder Cameron Humphreys could still leave Portman Road on a loan basis ahead of Monday night's transfer deadline, with divisional rivals Oxford United mooted as a potential destination.

That is according to a report from Ipswich Town-based news outlet, TWTD, who have revealed the aforementioned update in a list of potential outgoings from the Suffolk club in the summer transfer window's final hours.

Kieran McKenna's side had endured a slow-moving transfer window in terms of incomings following their return to the Championship, but have recently ramped up such activity, breaking the second-tier transfer record for a new signing as Norwegian teenager Sindre Walle Egeli joined for £17.5m from FC Nordsjaelland alongside the well-documented capture of Marcelino Nunez from bitter rivals Norwich City and Darnell Furlong's switch from West Bromwich Albion.

This, alongside previous incomings, has led to question marks over long-term names at Portman Road. Humphreys is someone who falls into said category after an impressive loan stint at Wycombe Wanderers last season, and his immediate future, at least, could be decided by 7PM.

Humphreys, a product of the Portman Road youth setup, hasn't quite been able to showcase his potential to the masses despite remaining very much highly-rated by McKenna and those involved in the Tractor Boys' inner-workings.

Since making his senior debut in the EFL Cup against Newport County back in August 2021, the Colchester-born box-to-box midfielder has made just 42 appearances for the Blues, with his move to Adams Park last season representing a first-ever loan departure from East Anglia.

Initially recruited during Matt Bloomfield's final summer window in charge of the Chairboys, Humphreys swiftly became one of League One's star performers as Wycombe found themselves in the thick of the promotion race before eventually slipping away under Mike Dodds and losing to Charlton Athletic in the play-off semi-finals.

After scoring seven times and posting six assists in 50 appearances across all competitions for the Buckinghamshire side, it would have come as little surprise when TWTD revealed that Bloomfield was eager to reunite with Humphreys at Kenilworth Road following Luton Town's back-to-back relegations from the Premier League to League One. However, such a move has failed to materialise in the past month.

The same publication has now reported in the final hours of the transfer window that Humphreys could leave Portman Road alongside Ali Al-Hamadi and Harry Clarke, with it being claimed that Oxford could sign the midfielder on a temporary basis due to former Wycombe head of recruitment, Scott Mitchell, who is now performing the same role at the Kassam Stadium.

However, such developments could hinge on whether Luke Woolfenden's wishes of a departure come to fruition, with Town needing a 'club-developed player' among the ranks to allow McKenna the option of an extra substitute in the Championship.

Cameron Humphreys must seek regular gametime after excelling on loan with Wycombe Wanderers

Soccer Football - FA Cup Fourth Round Replay - Burnley v Ipswich Town - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - February 7, 2023 Burnley's Samuel Bastien in action with Ipswich Town's Cameron Humphreys Action Images/Ed Sykes

There was a strong feeling that Humphreys' gametime would be reduced even further amid recent links to former Birmingham City midfielder, Jordan James. Whilst the Welsh international is set to move elsewhere, the homegrown talent must still be seeking regular gametime at this point, rather than remaining at Portman Road as a squad player.

A move to Oxford would certainly provide that, with Humphreys also able to add a different dimension to Gary Rowett's midfield alongside the likes of Cameron Brannagan. It is also clear that the experienced boss is looking for further reinforcements in this area amid previous reports of a transfer battle with Queens Park Rangers for the services of GAIS midfielder, Harun Ibrahim.

Many are tipping the U's for a season of struggle in contrast to the expectations placed on Ipswich. However, an exit at this stage - even on a temporary basis, could indicate what Humphreys' long-term future will also look like, with his current deal with the Tractor Boys set to expire in June 2026.