Ipswich Town pursuit of Sheffield United man comes with significant risks: View | OneFootball

Ipswich Town have work to do this summer, regardless of which division they will be in next season.

A number of areas will need to be addressed, with important loanees including Omari Hutchinson needing to be replaced if Kieran McKenna's side are to give themselves the best chance of being successful during the 2024/25 campaign and beyond.

AFC Bournemouth man Kieffer Moore is another one of those loanees who will need to be replaced, with Freddie Ladapo unlikely to be a suitable replacement.

Ladapo is a good asset to have in the EFL, but the Tractor Boys have moved to a different level now and with the 31-year-old's contract expiring in 2025, McKenna's side may benefit from selling him during the summer transfer window.

Goerge Hirst and Ali Al-Hamadi are the club's other striker options, with Nathan Broadhead also able to fill in as a striker is required.

Conor Chaplin, however, is more suitable as an attacking midfield option despite the fact he can operate as a striker. Kayden Jackson is another option, but he is more of an asset on the wing and his contract at Portman Road expires this summer, so it remains to be seen whether he remains at the club.

Another striker of two will be needed, considering all of this, and one potential option has emerged already.

Daniel Jebbison linked with a move to Ipswich Town

Sheffield United striker Daniel Jebbison is on the Tractor Boys' radar ahead of the summer window, according to Alan Nixon.

The 20-year-old's contract at Bramall Lane expires at the end of the season and with the player yet to put pen to paper on a new deal, McKenna's side could table an offer for the forward in the coming months.

A compensation fee would need to be paid with Jebbison only 20 years old, but it has been reported by Nixon that Ipswich are prepared to a tribunal if they did manage to secure a deal.

The Blades are likely to be keen to receive a large compensation fee for the young striker, so it wouldn't be a surprise if a tribunal is necessary.

An Ipswich Town move for Daniel Jebbison would be risky

Signing Jebbison seems like a no-brainer.

He's a young player who may not cost too much, considering the Tractor Boys would only need to pay a compensation fee, and that surely makes him an attractive target for the Suffolk-based side.

At 20, he is a highly-rated player and should only get better, so this is a signing that would surely be worthwhile, even if Ipswich need to send him out on loan.

However, this move has its potential drawbacks too.

Firstly, Jebbison hasn't played a single minute of competitive football this season and that is a major career setback for him, because this season could have allowed him to test himself at the top level and develop into a much better footballer.

He hasn't made a huge impact at a senior level during his career so far, despite a promising loan at Burton Albion, so the last thing he needed was an injury-plagued campaign.

Unfortunately, this is what he has had to deal with, and some would argue that the Tractor Boys require a different type of striker.

Hirst and Al-Hamadi, especially the latter, have a huge amount of potential and are young enough to improve considerably.

With this in mind, they could benefit from a more experienced player like loanee Moore who can make an immediate impact in the short term.

This short-term impact player will be required regardless of which division the Tractor Boys are in next season.

Jebbison is a promising player, but focusing on recruiting him and missing out on a more proven, senior addition would be a big mistake.