Ipswich Town keen to strike Chelsea transfer agreement as delay emerges in potential deal | OneFootball

Marc Guiu is currently part of Chelsea's Club World Cup squad

Ipswich Town are said to be still interested in signing Spanish striker Marc Guiu from Chelsea this summer.

According to The Athletic though, any decision over the teenager's future will not be sorted until after the FIFA Club World Cup is concluded.

The forward made the switch to the Blues from Barcelona last summer, but has been unable to break into Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans on a consistent basis.

The 19-year-old featured just three times in the Premier League last season, with each appearance coming as a substitute, although he did make more of an impact in the UEFA Conference League, with six goals in seven outings.

Marc Guiu transfer latest as Ipswich Town circle

Chelsea are reportedly set to discuss Guiu’s future when they are finished in the United States with the Club World Cup, of which they are currently in the quarter-finals.

Maresca’s side will face Palmeiras in the last eight, with the tournament set to conclude on 13 July, meaning it could still be almost two weeks before a decision is made.

It’s understood that Ipswich are among the clubs interested in a deal to sign the player this summer, with a loan deal likely - it was first reported in late May by The Guardian that the young Spaniard was on their radar, and their interest has not dissipated over the weeks that have followed.

Kieran McKenna will be keen to bolster his forward options this summer ahead of the team’s return to the Premier League.

The departure of Liam Delap, who moved to Chelsea earlier this window, has led to potential interest in a deal for Guiu, with forward options pretty scarse in Suffolk right now.

Ipswich will be targeting a top two finish in the Championship this season, with their sights set on establishing themselves as a Premier League club once more.

The Tractor Boys are yet to seal their first signing of the summer, but have already lost the likes of Delap and Axel Tuanzebe to Chelsea and Burnley respectively.

Other departures could also be on the cards, with speculation surrounding the likes of Omari Hutchinson and Leif Davis already this summer.

Marc Guiu could flourish at Ipswich Town but you'd expect plenty of transfer competition

Guiu performed well in the Conference League last season, but wasn’t quite able to establish himself in the Premier League - which isn't a surprise given Chelsea's attacking options.

A year down in the Championship where he could get consistent game time would be great for his development, and Ipswich could be a great landing spot - especially as they'll likely be on the front foot in most of their matches.

McKenna’s side will need some reinforced firepower after losing Delap, and the 19-year-old could be a smart temporary solution as a different type of competition for George Hirst.

This has the potential to be a deal that works well for all parties, and waiting until the end of the Club World Cup makes sense given he is being used in Maresca’s squad throughout the tournament.