Ipswich Town eye Middlesbrough man: Is it a good potential move? Would he start? What does he offer? | OneFootball

Midfielder Massimo Luongo is training with Ipswich Town following his failed move to Middlesbrough earlier this season.

Luongo signed for Boro under then manager Chris Wilder who wanted to add depth to his light midfield, with Luongo a free transfer after leaving Sheffield Wednesday over the summer.

The Australian international has failed to make an appearance for the Teesiders and is allowed to leave the club once his contract expires in January.

That has opened the door up for the 30-year-old to find a new club with Ipswich ahead in the queue for the experienced midfielder.

Here, we look at the potential move and whether he suits the Tractor Boys and what he offers.

Is it a good potential move?

Ipswich adding another experienced midfielder could well be a wise move in their bid for promotion back to the Championship.

With Sam Morsy and Lee Evans at their disposal, as well as Panutche Camara, Luongo would bring additional depth and quality in the midfield department. With Camara’s recent injury, it highlights the need to bring in an extra midfielder.

With it being a free transfer, it offers a low risk to Kieran McKenna’s side, as they won’t need to commit high financial costs towards the transfer.

The only potential hurdle is the lack of match fitness and the time it will take Luongo to get up to speed. Having not played this season, as well as making just 27 appearances last season for Sheffield Wednesday, Luongo will need time to regain match fitness.

That being said, someone of his experience will add so much value as the season progresses and with it being a free transfer, it’s a no brainer.

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Would he start?

This is an interesting question. A fit Luongo with games under his belt would almost certainly start. Is he better than Evans and Morsy? Most likely not and has perhaps enjoyed his best years considering his lack of action over the last nine months or so.

However, his leadership, experience and ability to play between the boxes will add variation to Ipswich’s relatively immobile midfield.

That being said, it’s hard to see him playing ahead of Evans and Morsy, but he does give McKenna options to vary the formation he decides to play.

What does he offer

Luongo is a box-to-box midfielder who has the ability to arrive late in the area to get on the end of chances for his team.

He had a particularly impressive spell at QPR playing this way and had a career best six goals in the 17/18 season.

If he can get fit quickly, and get into the starting XI, Luongo could be amongst the goals again considering the amount of crosses Ipswich feed into the box. Neither Evans nor Morsy are known for grabbing goals, with Luongo adding that dimension to the midfield.