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Six Youngsters Offered Pro Deals - Ipswich Town News

Town have offered youngsters James Blanchfield, George Fowler, Monty Patterson, Chris Smith, Shane McLoughlin and Jacob Marsden professional contracts for next season.

Midfielder Blanchfield (pictured), a second-year scholar, was with Arsenal’s youth set-up before joining the Blues in July 2014, having previously spent time on trial with Manchester United.

Central defender Fowler, also a second-year, who hails from Debenham, has been playing for the Blues’ U18s since he was 14.

New Zealand U20 and U23 international midfielder Patterson joined the club in the summer of 2014. He has spent most of this season out having suffered a serious ankle injury in the U21s but is expected to return to action before the end of the campaign.

Smith, another second-year scholar and a former Kesgrave High School pupil, is a midfielder or central defender who has been with the club since he was eight.

Irish U18 international midfielder McLoughlin is a third-year scholar this season having joined the club in the summer of 2013. He was on the first-team bench for the first time for the FA Cup replay at Portsmouth.

Keeper Marsden, also in his third year as a scholar, has spent much of the last couple of seasons out with a knee injury but returned to match action with the U21s earlier in the campaign.

The Blues have also offered second-year scholar Travis Cole an extension to his time with the club having been hampered by injury.

As reported yesterday, striker Sam Ford has not been offered a deal and is set to join West Ham where he has impressed on trial.

Fellow frontman Nick Ingram, who is currently on loan at Bury Town, is also amongst those not to have been offered terms.

"I was unfortunately let go by Ipswich Town on Friday,” the 18-year-old confirmed to the Bury Free Press.

"I’ll have a sit down and talk with my father to look at my options. My plan is to stay here for the rest of the season."

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