x

Gibbs Already on Premier League Radar as Town Offer New Deal - Ipswich Town News

TWTD understands the Blues have offered midfielder Liam Gibbs a new contract with the youngster having already been noticed by Premier League clubs.

The 18-year-old made his first-team debut in 2019/20’s EFL Trophy tie at Colchester and played two more games in that competition this season before being handed his League One bow in November's 2-0 home defeat to Charlton.

Gibbs has been one of the outstanding performers in the U18s' FA Youth Cup run and we understand his displays have caught the eye of a number of Premier League sides who have subsequently been watching him on a regular basis.

The midfielder signed his first professional terms with the Blues on his 17th birthday in December 2019 and that deal is up at the end of the season.

However, we understand Town have now offered a new long-term deal which the Bury St Edmunds-born schemer is expected to sign.

Speaking about Gibbs last month, manager Paul Lambert said: "He’s a really good player, a really talented footballer.

"But as I’ve said before, I say it every time, he needs a little bit of time to develop and there’s no pressure.”

He added: "He’s really clever with the ball, he’s a really intelligent player. You only really need to tell him something once and he takes it in.

"That’s the sign of a good player, when they take it in first time then you know you’ve got a really good player on your hands. But again, without getting carried away, he has got a chance.”

Meanwhile, former Blues youngster Charlie Brown has moved to the MK Dons from Chelsea.

Brown, now 21, joined Town as an U10 but left for Chelsea in 2016 for a fee understood to be around £650,000 plus top-ups as he was about to start his scholarship having already broken into the U23s.

The frontman, the elder brother of current Blues youngster Zak, didn’t make a first-team appearance with Chelsea but last year spent time on loan with Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise - a pre-season opponent of Town’s in 2016 - where he made three senior appearances.

Town are understood not to have received anything as a result of the former Felixstowe Academy pupil’s move to the Dons.

What to read next:

Town Women Drawn at AFC Portchester or Worthing
Ipswich Town Women will travel to face either AFC Portchester or Worthing in the third round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Thomas in Jamaica Squad For World Cup Qualifier
Ipswich Town Women’s striker Natasha Thomas has been named in the Jamaica squad as they get their World Cup qualification campaign under way against Dominica at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Saturday 29th November.
Adobe Women’s FA Cup Third Round Draw This Evening
Ipswich Town Women are ball number four in the southern section in the draw for the third round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, which takes place this evening.
McKenna: Second-Top Scorers Hull City a Different Challenge
Town manager Kieran McKenna says Hull City, who the Blues visit on Tuesday looking for a third away win on the bounce, will present a very different challenge from Wrexham at Portman Road at the weekend.
Taylor: We're Going to Need Strength in Depth
Town midfielder Jack Taylor believes the Blues’ strength in depth will play into their hands during the current congested schedule in the Championship season.
[Podcast] The Naked Football Show - Listen Again
This week's Naked Football Show is now available online.
Town Women Beaten By Lionesses in Final League Cup Match
Ipswich Town Women put on a spirited performance against WSL opposition but were ultimately second best at the Jobserve Colchester Community Stadium today, losing 2-0 to London City Lionesses in their final Group D game in the Subway Women’s League Cup and exiting the competition with zero points.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Ipswich Town 0-0 Wrexham - Highlights
Highlights of yesterday’s 0-0 draw with Wrexham at Portman Road.