"He will deliver goals" - Oxford United and Ipswich Town agreement touted | OneFootball

FLW's verdict on Oxford United's potential pursuit of Ipswich Town striker Ali Al-Hamadi

Highlights

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict‘ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Oxford United are weighing up a loan move for Ipswich Town striker Ali Al-Hamadi this summer.

According to BolaSport, the Iraq international is not part of Kieran McKenna’s plans for the first team squad next season.

The forward signed for the Suffolk outfit last January from League Two side AFC Wimbledon, joining with a contract until the summer of 2028.

Ali Al-Hamadi’s Ipswich Town record

Al-Hamadi featured 14 times in the Championship following his arrival at Portman Road, but only one of those appearances came as a starter (stats from Fbref).

He bagged four goals in the league, helping McKenna’s side gain promotion to the Championship.

Prior to his move to Ipswich, he contributed 13 goals and six assists from 23 appearances in League Two.

Ali Al-Hamadi loan move makes sense for all parties

Here we ask our FLW writers their verdict on whether Al-Hamadi would be a good signing for Oxford United following their promotion to the Championship…

Declan Harte

Al-Hamadi will face stiff competition for regular game time from Mark Harris, who led the line for the U’s last year as they gained their place in the second division.

The Welshman scored 15 goals in the regular season, playing a pivotal role in their promotion via the play-offs.

Al-Hamadi showed his prowess from the bench with Ipswich, contributing four from 13 substitute appearances.

Making the jump up from League Two to the Championship can be quite a challenge, but the 22-year-old didn’t look out of place at this level, making the transition quite smoothly.

Al-Hamadi’s lack of regular game time was due to how strong the competition was at Ipswich, with Kieffer Moore and a returning-from-injury George Hirst vying for minutes.

While Harris performed well in League One, Al-Hamadi stands a greater chance of consistent starts with Oxford United next season than when he was in the Championship with Ipswich.

Given McKenna also has no plans to use him in the Premier League, a loan move makes the most sense.

This could be a deal that works out well for all parties, as it will allow Al-Hamadi to play regularly, will strengthen Des Buckingham’s attacking options and frees up space in the Ipswich squad for life in the Premier League.

Alfie Burns

This feels like a move that could make quite a lot of sense.

Learning that Al-Hamadi won't be part of Ipswich's plans for the Premier League isn't really much of a surprise. He's stepped up from League Two to the Championship quite quickly, and the top-flight is another big leap. Frankly, Ipswich are probably going to need better.

McKenna leaned on Kieffer Moore and George Hirst to really get his side over the line last season, with Al-Hamadi's role a supportive one.

However, that's not to say that he can't cut it at the Championship. He would be a very good pick-up for Oxford after their promotion from League One.

Let's be fair, their ambition will be to stay in the Championship next season, and it's highly unlikely they will be competing at the sharp end of the table as Ipswich were. Al-Hamadi will thrive as the main man and Oxford will be confident that, if he gets the service needed, he will deliver goals like he did in League Two and on occasions for the Tractor Boys.

For all parties, it makes a lot of sense.