Departing Blues loanee Omari Hutchinson says Town will always have a place in his heart following his outstanding season-long spell at Portman Road from Chelsea.
The 20-year-old scored 11 goals and recorded five assists during his first full senior season. He is now understood to be back at Stamford Bridge with his parent club, who have him contracted for another season with an option for a further campaign, keen to take a look at him in training and talk about his future before the summer break.
Reflecting on the season just gone and helping Town to promotion to the Premier League, the Jamaica international wrote on Instagram: "I want to reflect on how special this year has been for me. Since arriving at the club you have all made me feel welcome and loved.
"Thanks to my amazing teammates who I now call brothers, helped me from the first day I entered that changing room.
"Also [I’d] like to thank the special people behind the scenes who treated me like one of their own. To all the coaching staff that helped develop me into the player I am today, thank you.
"Most importantly, a massive thank you to Kieran McKenna for trusting and believing in my ability. You brought out the best of me and I will always be grateful for that. Ipswich Town will always have a place in my heart💙”
Town manager McKenna and chief executive Mark Ashton have both said they are keen to bring Hutchinson back to Portman Road next season, but with the Blues still finalising their transfer plans and with the summer potentially one of flux for the former Arsenal youngster.
Big clubs throughout Europe are understood to have kept an eye on him during his time with the Blues and Chelsea, who are believed to need to sell players to stay within Financial Fair Play limits, perhaps looking to sell a player they rate at around £20 million, while Town aren’t the only ones keen to sign him on loan for next season.
Hutchinson himself has said he’d be keen to return to the Blues but admitted he didn’t know what would happen over the summer.