Town loanee Tom Lawrence may have been one of the Championship’s most influential players this season — but he still faces an uncertain future.

His 10 goals make him top goalscorer for Mick McCarthy’s men by some distance and the Town boss has admitted more than once that he will be unable to afford to make the Leicester loanee a permanent signing in the summer.

While at first club Manchester United the Welsh international had loan spells at Carlisle and Yeovil and since joining the Foxes on a four-year deal in 2014 he has played most of his football on loan at Blackburn, Cardiff and now Ipswich, only making one FA Cup start and three substitute appearances in the Premier League for his parent club.

Lawrence said: “I couldn’t really say where my future lies. I just have to wait and see what they [Leicester] have to say in the summer and go from there. I really don’t know what’s going to happen. I can’t predict my future so I’ll just have to wait and see.

“I haven’t heard from Leicester since I joined Ipswich in August last year. You’d have thought they would have contacted me but they haven’t so we’ll just have to see where that takes me.

“I don’t know if they have someone responsible for the players who are out on loan — I can’t really answer that one.

“I just get on with playing for Ipswich, who have made me feel very welcome. There’s no issue with them. I thought I could give something to Leicester this season but obviously they thought differently. If they want me to stay hopefully I will have something to offer next year.”

Lawrence was shocked to see Leicester sack manager Claudio Ranieri so soon after leading them to the Premier League crown, adding: “It was a bit of a strange one but football’s crazy these days and you never know what’s going to happen. It was very harsh, I thought, but that’s football.”

Asked if he had spoken to McCarthy about his future, Lawrence responded: “It’s not really something for the manager here. It’s up to the manager at Leicester to decide whether he wants me or not.

“I think it has gone well for me here and my goal tally is the highest it has ever been. I’m playing with a lot of confidence, same as at Blackburn, but that wasn’t the case when I was on loan at Cardiff. I’m enjoying it here and I’m having a great season.

“I didn’t get the opportunities I should have had under the manager at Cardiff. When I was at Blackburn I was playing good football but at Cardiff there were a lot of off-the-field club issues. I’d have liked a run of games but it didn’t happen.”

Playing regularly and the faith shown in him by McCarthy has boosted the player’s self-belief. He added: “It definitely helps when you are playing every game. I was welcomed by all the lads when I first arrived and that has also played a big part.

“They are a good group here and we should be higher up the league, which we are all hoping to do between now and the end of the season.

“I’ve not just improved as a player, I’ve also matured. It comes with the confidence. Back at Leicester I never knew if I was going to play but the gaffer here has shown confidence in me and hopefully that has shown in my performances.”

Lawrence has been partnering David McGoldrick up front in recent weeks and he said: “I think we work well together. You can see from a few of the goals how well we can combine with each other and hopefully that will continue. It would be good if we’re both among the goals.

“Ems [Emyr Huws] has chipped in with a couple of goals as well so that will help him massively. It’s good to have a few different goalscorers in the team. Me, Ems and Jonny Williams have known each other since our young days.

“It’s just a shame that Jonny has had a few injuries but hopefully we can see him back on the pitch soon. It’s obviously up to the gaffer whether it happens or not but it would be good if all three of us could play together for Ipswich. We would all like that.”

Photo: TWTD

therein61 added 16:11 - Mar 9 Would like to see all 3 of you playing for us next season!!!!
17

Seasider added 16:20 - Mar 9 No news is good news for us!
6

Swn98 added 16:29 - Mar 9 Could this be a glimmer of hope that perhaps we could sign him .Just goes to show all the anti MM brigade the players respect him if the news site users do, not t be careful what you wish for.
3

6fish added 16:30 - Mar 9 If ever there was a moment for Marcus Evans to step up this player is it. The best Ipswich player I've seen for sometime. Come on Marcus, open the wallet, get in there early and make this lad a basis for a new Ipswich team that can challenge next season!
11

hoppy added 16:45 - Mar 9 Oh, didn't you get the memo, Tom? Leicester said they didn't want you so you might as well join Ipswich for a very small fee... and they're happy to give you a massive pay-off so that your salary demands needn't be much when it comes to joining Town... Surprised you hadn't seen that... Welcome on board.
9

Cakeman added 16:58 - Mar 9 As long as Leicester don't ask for more than £20k we should be in a good position. I would think we could also stretch to paying the minimum wage also 😉
1

Mark added 17:23 - Mar 9 Strange that Leicester do not pick up the phone to ask how the lad is getting on. That is very poor, regardless of whether they want him back or to sell him. Maybe another loan deal for Lawrence would be possible, but whether it is worth us paying a potentially heafty loan fee and wages for him is debatable when that money could be spent on permanent signings.
2

planetblue_2011 added 17:46 - Mar 9 Offer Leicester 4 million surely that is the Murphy money & a bit extra. 25 grand a week contract for Lawrence do well for him. Come on Evans you can do it. huws as well & Micks other striker he wants maybe Watkins. I can dream but you never know something has to change at this club.
3

Orraman added 18:09 - Mar 9 Reading between the lines, looks like he wants to stay here and play with Huws and Williams. If Leicester not all that interested fee may be cheaper than expected and like Huws he too may be prepared to accept realistic wages in the meantime. The biggest problem of course is Evans and his tightly closed wallet
1

NBVJohn added 18:23 - Mar 9 Another pointless article. We don't need to know this - unless there has been a radical shift in policy around transfers, this is irrelevant. 'we should be higher up the league,' blah blah blah. If there was a league for rhetoric and general hot air, we'd be top. Planet blue - £4m based on current market rate - no chance.
2

shakytown added 18:30 - Mar 9 Leicester will have decided that under no circumstances will they risk his talent playing for Muck so they don't need to say anything. Season ends he goes back home and a club with desire and is willing to pay for talent will sign him up. Sadly that's not Ipswich Town.
2

bbg added 18:50 - Mar 9 I think MM should be given some credit for his man management skills. For all the talk about his defensive nature, three attackers Lawrence, Murphy & McGoldrick (when fit) have probably played the best football of their careers to date under him. Having "favourites" as some fans so ridiculously call it, has benefits, players get confidence from managers having faith in them. Professional managers have loyalties, not favourites, and their loyalties to players are based on who they think can get them results, as otherwise they havent a job or an income.. Would love to see the three welsh lads here next season.

5

Bert added 19:58 - Mar 9 I like the last two sentences very much. If only.......
2

GFH added 20:00 - Mar 9 If we are to move on to better things as a club we MUST try our hardest to keep players such as Lawrence and Hugs here on a permanent basis rather than relying on trying botch together a good team of loanees.
3

Cloddyseedbed added 20:25 - Mar 9 Why would Lawrence want to play here for us next year? Great player, he'll not find it difficult to get a good club with a good contract and good money.
3

cobboldblue added 23:39 - Mar 9 OMG so would like this player to be a ITC player next season. Just not sure whether the Foxes stating up or getting relegated would give us the best shot at keeping him (assuming ME made the necessary funds available). Anyway the new manager will want all loans back for pre-season to have a look so I guess no chance really anyway.
1

shakytown added 01:07 - Mar 11 swn98. There's more chance of the pope resurrecting mother Teresa and playing her at center forward for AC milan than us signing a player of Lawrences class.
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