Town fans have reacted angrily to reports which claim the Thomas Gaardsøe fee is as little as £500,000. While it is understood there will be further clauses on appearances and a percentage of any sell-on, the actual fee is a lot lower than many were expecting for the 23-year-old Danish U21 international.
Carl Day, acting chair of Ipswich Town First, says it is no surprise that supporters have reacted in this way: "Clearly fans were initially not expecting one of the club's top youngsters to be sold so close to the start of the season. Then to hear £500,000 quoted as the fee was an additional shock.
"There is evidently a difference in expectation between the club itself and supporters on the subject of transfer dealings, and fans are simply fed-up with hearing more and more bad news.
"Many were not expecting anyone else to depart after Matteo Sereni and Matt Holland, and now would seem the time for the club to more fully explain the current financial situation, the CVA requirements and whether we can expect any more players to leave before the end of August transfer deadline.
"Fans would also like an official disclosure of the fees for both Matteo Sereni and Thomas Gaardsøe rather than being reliant on media speculation.
"If the reported £500,000 figure is correct then it appears lower than a number of other transfers this summer involving Nationwide League clubs.
"While it is always going to be disappointing for supporters to see fees agreed for popular and promising players, the Trust feels fan reaction to the Gaardsøe deal - and particularly the fee - has gone beyond what is usual and the club very much needs to listen, take notice and above all outline more fully the current state of its finances."
Town agreed a fee for the Dane yesterday and Gaardsøe is set to talk to West Brom regarding personal terms.