Exclusive: Ipswich already want to sign two Sunderland players after earning promotion to the Premier League
08/05/2024 10:45
- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
TBR Football understands that newly promoted Ipswich Town are ready to make moves in the transfer market and the Championship is set to be an area of focus for Kieran McKenna’s side.
Town know the division well and are set to use their knowledge to land players they feel can make the leap with them.
TBR understands that two players that they are looking at are Sunderland pair Dan Ballard and Pierre Ekwah.
Sunderland likely to sell Dan Ballard and Pierre Ekwah
Despite Sunderland’s own struggles – Ballard and Ekwah were stand-out performers for The Black Cats.
Sunderland are working to a strict budget going forward, and bringing in top prospects like Ballard and Ekwah were done with the view they might be sold – and that looks the likely outcome this summer.
Ipswich are not the only admirers of former Arsenal defender Ballard and former West Ham midfielder Ekwah – but they are ready to make early moves to try and land the pair.
- READ MORE: Sunderland must try and sign ‘unplayable’ EFL whizz who has 20 goal contributions this season
The cost of Dan Ballard and Pierre Ekwah
Ballard has a Transfermarkt value of £3.2m, though, considering Sunderland outlaid £2m on his signature less than two years ago, they’ll likely demand a lot higher than that, particularly if interest mounts.
The same goes for Ekwah, who is valued at £2.4m. The 2002-born only joined from The Hammers last year and given his early promise, it’s unlikely The Tractor Boys will be able to sign him for anywhere close to that figure.
For both, a combined deal worth in the region of £8m seems more realistic, as Sunderland will be well aware of Ipswich’s increased financial power following automatic promotion to the top flight.
