Ipswich Town set to complete transfer deal for ex-West Brom defender | OneFootball

Ipswich Town are reportedly set to sign ex-West Brom defender Cedric Kipre from French side Reims.

Ipswich Town are reportedly closing in on the loan signing of Reims defender Cedric Kipre.

That's according to French outlet L'Equipe, who claim that Kipre is set to complete a season-long loan move to Ipswich, and they will have an obligation to sign him permanently for a fee of €4.5 million (£3.9 million) next summer if they win promotion to the Premier League.

The Tractor Boys are currently preparing for life back in the Championship following their relegation from the top flight last season, and they have made just one new signing so far this summer, with goalkeeper David Button joining on a free transfer from Reading.

Ipswich have lost three key players during the early stages of the transfer window, with defenders Axel Tuanzebe and Cameron Burgess departing for Burnley and Swansea City respectively, while star striker Liam Delap has made the switch to Chelsea for a fee of £30 million, and there could be further exits from Portman Road over the coming months.

However, it appears the Tractor Boys are now pressing ahead with their transfer plans ahead of the new season, and after Button's arrival last week, Kipre could be the next one through the door.

Ipswich Town set to sign Reims defender Cedric Kipre

After spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Leicester City, Corby Town and Motherwell, Kipre joined Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2018, and he went on to score two goals in 77 appearances during an impressive two-year spell at the Brick Community Stadium.

Kipre's time with the Latics ended in disappointment as they were relegated to League One in the 2019-20 season after being hit with a 12-point deduction for entering administration, but he did enough to earn a move to the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion in September 2020.

The 28-year-old spent time out on loan with Charleroi and Cardiff City after struggling to establish himself at The Hawthorns, but he starred after being brought back into the fold by Carlos Corberan following his return from South Wales, and he was voted Albion's Player of the Season by his team-mates in the 2023-24 campaign.

Kipre was offered a new contract by the Baggies last summer, but he rejected the proposal in order to return to his native France with Reims, and he was a regular last season in what proved to be a turbulent campaign for the club.

While Kipre did enjoy some success at Reims as they reached the Coupe de France final, where they were beaten 3-0 by PSG, the Champagne club were relegated from Ligue 1 after a 4-2 aggregate defeat by Metz in the play-off, and the defender's goal in the first leg was not enough to save his side from the drop.

It seems that Kipre will not be remaining at Stade Auguste-Delaune in Ligue 2 next season, and having been linked with newly-promoted Premier League side Sunderland earlier in the summer, he is now set to join Ipswich on an initial season-long loan deal.

Cedric Kipre arrival could help to solve big Ipswich Town problem

After losing Tuanzebe and Burgess, strengthening at centre-back is a priority for Ipswich this summer, and Kipre should be a good addition for the Suffolk outfit.

The Tractor Boys conceded a staggering 82 goals in the Premier League last season, and they even conceded 57 goals during their promotion-winning campaign in 2023-24, so manager Kieran McKenna will need to tighten his side up at the back if they are to challenge for an immediate top flight return.

Kipre was a key part of the West Brom side that reached the Championship play-offs two seasons ago, and Albion were incredibly solid defensively with the Frenchman in the team, so Ipswich will be hoping that he can have a similar impact at Portman Road.