Charlton Athletic, Luton Town and Cardiff City weigh up move for Ipswich Town attacker | OneFootball

Ipswich Town's manager Kieran McKenna has approved the departure of Iraqi international Ali Al-Hamadi, and several EFL clubs are interested in him.

A number of EFL clubs have been put on alert by the availability of Ipswich Town striker Ali Al-Hamadi who has been deemed surplus to requirements at Portman Road.

Ipswich Town started the new season as one of the favourites to win promotion to the Premier League at the end of this season, but they were a little fortuitous to escape from the first Championship game of the season away to Birmingham City on Friday night with a point.

Meanwhile behind the scenes at the club, a summer of intense activity in the transfer market seems likely to continue with the news that Ipswich are prepared to let a striker go, as they continue their reshuffle ahead of the closure of the transfer window at the end of the month.

Kieran McKenna green lights Ali Al-Hamadi exit from Portman Road

Teamtalk report that the Ipswich manager has approved the departure of Iraqi international striker Al Al-Hamadi from the club by the end of the summer transfer window.

There is reported interest from a number of different clubs in the EFL, including Luton Town, Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City - although the 23-year-old is believed to want to stay in the Championship.

Al-Hamadi was in the starting eleven for Ipswich's 1-1 draw at Bromley in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night, but then missed the decisive penalty in the resulting shootout to secure their elimination from the competition.

Al-Hamadi has slipped down the pecking order at Portman Road

Al-Hamadi signed for Ipswich Town from AFC Wimbledon in the January 2024 transfer window. After helping them win promotion to the Premier League at the end of that season, he became the first Iraqi to play top-flight football in England when he was brought on as a substitute against Liverpool at the start of the 2024-25 season.

In January, he was loaned back to the Championship to play for Stoke City, but he returned at the end of last season. Ipswich lost Liam Delap to Chelsea at the very start of the summer transfer window, but they have George Hirst, Sammie Szmodics and new signing Chuba Akpom as options that will be used ahead of Al-Hamadi at Portman Road this season.

While the player himself wants to stay in the Championship and news of his availability might flush out other clubs in the division who could be interested in him, but a step-down to League One looks as likely as not, on the basis of what we know about who is interested in him at the moment.