Town midfielder Flynn Downes has handed in a transfer request in the wake of Crystal Palace’s second rejected bid.
In July, TWTD revealed that the Eagles were keen on the 21-year-old with sporting director Dougie Freedman having been at Town’s game at Blackpool at the end of February as the Selhurst Park club continued an ongoing watching brief.
After an initial bid of just over £1 million had been turned down, Palace returned for a further offer last week which we understand was below the £2 million reported and was dismissed out of hand.
Now The Athletic is reporting that Downes, who was TWTD readers’ Player of the Year for 2019/20, has handed in a transfer request in the wake of those bids, which we believe to be the case.
Owner Marcus Evans is understood to have no plans to offload any of the club’s prized assets this summer, despite the financial implications of the coronavirus crisis.
And, while every player has his price, Town would want an overall deal, including clauses such as appearance milestones, worth significantly more than the figures currently being reported if they were to sell the Brentwood-born academy product.
#ITFC midfielder Flynn Downes has handed in a transfer request @TheAthleticUK understands, after Ipswich rejected two offers from #CPFC
Latest offer for the 21-year-old worth around £2 million.
Part of a drive to sign younger talent, detailed here 👇ðŸ»https://t.co/YE5ZxfP9Iu– Matt Woosnam (@MattWoosie) September 1, 2020
Downes, who we understand has recently taken on a new agent, is contracted to the Blues until the summer of 2022 with the club having an option for a further season.
Asked last week whether he would be a Town player this season, Downes responded: "Hopefully, obviously we’ll see. You can never say for sure, but hopefully I will be.”
Quizzed on whether he was aware of any interest, he added: "I’ve heard little bits and bobs but I’m just focusing on the football, that’s all I can say really, I’m focusing on the football and everything else will be taken care of. That’s sort of it.”
West Ham, who Downes supports and who he faced in a friendly at Portman Road last Tuesday, also made their interest known to Town in January, while Fulham are among the other clubs to have been keeping tabs on the schemer. Reports of interest from Arsenal are understood to be wide of the mark.