Exclusive: Ipswich Town launch last ditch move to sign Luton Town player before 7pm | OneFootball

Ipswich Town are plotting a shock late move to prise Mark McGuinness away from Luton Town, Football League World understands

Ipswich Town are plotting a shock late swoop to sign former loanee Mark McGuinness from Luton Town in a race against the clock ahead of this evening's ever-approaching 7pm transfer deadline, sources have exclusively revealed to Football League World.

The Tractor Boys have entered the market for a Luke Woolfenden replacement as the defender closes in on a switch to Championship rivals Coventry City, with McKenna intent on filling the void poised to be left by his impending exit.

It has shaped up to prove a frantic finale to the summer transfer window at Portman Road. Nathan Broadhead and Omari Hutchinson, who both played instrumental roles in Ipswich's promotion to the Premier League two seasons prior, have departed for Wrexham and Nottingham Forest respectively, while Town have broken the Championship's transfer record by completing a blockbuster deal for Norweigan wonderkid Sindre Walle Egeli from Nordsjaelland after pinching gifted midfielder Marcelino Nunez from East Anglian rivals Norwich City in a hugely-controversial move.

Walle Egeli and Nunez have been added to the list of summer acquisitions for Ipswich, one which includes the likes of Chuba Akpom, Ivan Azon, Jens-Lys Cajuste, Cedric Kipre, Azor Matusiwa and Ashley Young.

Ipswich's business, however, is not done just yet and Woolfenden's move to Coventry has forced head coach Kieran McKenna back into the market as he eyes a last-grasp deal for McGuinness.

This comes amid Burnley's reported pursuit of Luton defender Teden Mengi, which could mark a dramatic double-blow for the Hatters.

Ipswich Town eyeing late transfer swoop for Luton Town's Mark McGuinness

With Woolfenden set to undertake medical proceedings with Frank Lampard's Coventry, having found himself out of favour in Suffolk, Ipswich are looking to add another central defender to the ranks and sources close to Football League World have revealed that the Tractor Boys have entered talks with Luton in a bid to bring McGuinness back to the club.

The one-cap Republic of Ireland international made 25 appearances on loan at Ipswich from Arsenal throughout the 2020/21 campaign before earning a move to Cardiff City, where he would establish himself at Championship level inbetween a brief return to the third-tier with Sheffield Wednesday.

McGuinness totalled 85 outings for the Bluebirds across his three-year stay in South Wales, and he departed for Luton last summer following the Hatters' relegation from the Premier League.

The deal which took the 24-year-old to Kenilworth Road was said to be worth an eventual £10 million subject to various add-on criteria being met, though McGuinness endured a difficult debut campaign with the side as they suffered a shock relegation to League One alongside Cardiff.

Arsenal academy product McGuinness has turned out on 51 occasions for the Hatters, and has featured in each of their opening six third-tier encounters under Matt Bloomfield.

Ipswich Town supporters may have mixed feelings about Luton Town's Mark McGuinness

It's an unprecedented twist, and few would have envisaged that Ipswich would end up eyeing a reunion with McGuinness at any stage this summer.

The central defender showed signs of real promise during his loan spell with Town, which prompted Cardiff - then in a higher division, of course - to take a punt on his services, but the rawness was also clear and no shortage of supporters were surprised when he linked up with ex-Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy in the Welsh capital.

Granted, McGuinness has come on leaps and bounds since then and has proven himself to be a seasoned and capable Championship-level defender, in spite of the freshly-suffered relegation with Luton, but that too may sound certain alarm bells among the Tractor Boys fanbase.

Cardiff supporters may have better reviews of McGuinness compared to those of a Luton or Ipswich persuasion, but his time in Wales was not entirely plain-sailing either, and Town fans may wonder if the club, given its impressive ambition and financial muscle showcased on a number of occasions this summer, could set their sights somewhat higher.