Ipswich Town enter advanced talks to sign Dutch midfielder | OneFootball

Ipswich Town are close to the signing of a midfielder from French side Rennes

Ipswich Town are in advanced talks to sign Rennes midfielder Azor Matusiwa this summer.

According to Le Parisien, the Tractor Boys are closing in on a deal to bring the Dutchman to the club following their relegation from the Premier League, with Alex Jones reporting the player will cost €11.5 (£9.95) million.

Kieran McKenna will be keen to bolster his side in the transfer market, with the Suffolk outfit eyeing promotion straight back to the top flight.

Matusiwa has spent the last season-and-a-half with Rennes, and has made 41 appearances in Ligue 1 in that time.

Ipswich close in on Matusiwa signing

It has been reported that Ipswich are in advanced talks to sign the 27-year-old from Rennes after the team finished 12th in the French top flight.

The midfielder was a consistent presence in the side last season, playing in 29 of their 34 league games, including 23 starts.

However, it is understood that Matusiwa has fallen down the pecking order under Habib Beye, who was appointed manager last January, and is not currently in his plans for the upcoming campaign.

This will open the door for the midfielder to make the switch to Portman Road, with talks underway over the terms of a deal.

It has been claimed that the deal will cost £9.95 million, which is less than what Rennes paid for him originally, with the Dutchman arriving at the club in January 2024 for €16 (£13.8) million.

Matusiwa has a contract with the Ligue 1 side until the summer of 2028, which gives them a strong negotiating position.

Ipswich’s summer business

Ipswich have confirmed just one new arrival this summer since suffering relegation from the Premier League.

Goalkeeper David Button has signed after his departure from Reading, with player exits taking up most of the Tractor Boys’ business so far.

Liam Delap, Axel Tuanzebe, Cameron Burgess, Marcus Harness and Massimo Luongo have all left Portman Road since the end of last season.

Matusiwa signing is a big move by Ipswich

Ipswich will want to immediately go straight back up to the Premier League this season, so it’s no surprise they’re being linked with some big moves in the market.

Bringing in Matusiwa could be a very smart signing as he could provide the defensive solidity that they lacked last year.

The midfielder has top flight experience in France, and is coming into his prime years now.