Town are set to offer Arsenal £1 million for striker or wideman Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, according to a tabloid report. The 20-year-old has previously played in the Championship with Blackpool, Doncaster and Cardiff.

Forest Gate-born Emmanuel-Thomas joined the Arsenal academy at the age of seven, progressing through the ranks to skipper the U18s to the 2009 FA Youth Cup at the age of 16 and swiftly breaking into the reserves.

The 6ft 3in tall England U17 and U19 international, who played under former Town coach Chris Kiwomya as a Gunners youngster, has made only one senior Arsenal start in an FA Cup tie, plus a further single Premier League sub appearance and three more cup games from the bench.

After spells on loan largely playing in wide midfield roles at Blackpool, Doncaster and last season with Cardiff, Arsene Wenger is reported to have decided to allow Emmanuel-Thomas to leave on a permanent basis.

Town boss Paul Jewell is understood to be on the look-out for a big frontman to augment his existing strike force, while Emmanuel-Thomas’s ability to play wide may also prove an attraction with the Blues manager also keen to add to his midfield ranks.

Elsewhere, with Hull City still to officially comment on former Blues loanee Jimmy Bullard's reported two-week suspension, QPR are claimed to have moved on to other targets having been unable to agree loan terms with the Tigers.

Earlier in the summer, Blues boss Jewell ruled Town out of the running saying that the financial side of bringing the 32-year-old back to Suffolk was beyond the club's means.

Photo: Action Images

DanLyles added 10:51 - Jul 22 Pace, power and a decent strike and assist rate from the wing. Anybody who watched Smith and Delaney play against Cambridge United on Tuesday will be really worried by the lack of links to a centre back. I thought both looked nervous and uncomposed against non-league opposition!!!
0

Guthrum added 11:04 - Jul 22 johnhazelbum - you're confusing "linked by the press" with "pursued by the club". The former is the standard of player the media think we're after, and able to attract - which is rather flattering, looking at some of the names on that list. The latter is a different list, we don't know most of the names that have been on it and may bear very little relation to the media's version. So there's no point in trying to use a load of media speculation as a stick to beat the club with. They're not 'missed targets', but instead the fruits of someone's imagination.

0

planetblue_2011 added 11:08 - Jul 22 That is great news hope we can sign him. 1.m is a snip plus he brings some height to the team for a striker & a wide man. He's just what we need. We just need a centre half and maybe another midfielder. Give young jack ainsley a chance at right back I think he will do well. Just look at what Carson done when he was given a chance on the wing. Come on town!!
0

johnhazelbum added 11:17 - Jul 22 Sorry, I forgot Maynard.
0

jas0999 added 11:27 - Jul 22 Would be an excellent signing. But what about the defence????
0

andygizmo added 11:31 - Jul 22 getting to the stage that hearing we are interested means I lose interest..... Right now I'd be happy if we signed Ray Crawford just as an illustration that we can sign somebody. Is this all a way of getting us to sign into TWTD 43 times a day and increase the ad's hits so revenue increases? Call me when someone signs on the dotted line
0

CharlieITFC added 11:39 - Jul 22 For all of you who has said £1mil isn't enough obviously dont pay much attention...arsene wenger has already said they are willing to sell for around that price.
0

Monkaz added 11:41 - Jul 22 £1 Mil is a bargain to be quite honest especially for a player of this quality / and potential. Also, I am quite surprised that Whoopit hasn't commented yet ...
0

Lightningboy added 11:42 - Jul 22 Not sure re this one..looked a bit of a donkey every time I saw him play for cardiff last season tbh.
0

johnhazelbum added 11:42 - Jul 22 andygizmo is spot on. let us know when we actually sign somebody. (and don't broadcast to everyone if we are preparing a bid) It's summer and there are plenty of more enjoyable things to do than follow this hot air. Good luck PJ and everyone at Portman Road. I'll check back in a fortnight to see what level of ambition Marcus "don't take my photo" Evans has really got. PS. don't broadcast to everyone if we are preparing a bid for a player. Just sayin'.

0

Jack_hughes2 added 12:03 - Jul 22 Personally think this would be a great signing for the championship; big, strong, fast, skillful and versatile. Agree that an improved offer will more than likely be needed, but would welcome him none the less. Everyone that keeps saying ''we need this, we need that'' I'm sure Paul Jewell also knows we need defenders and is doing business as we speak, just because other stories are being leaked doesn't mean he's neglecting the centre and ride side of defence!!!

0

oddball added 12:07 - Jul 22 john hazelbum- paul jewel cant win with u can he, moan cause signing older player now this guys to young.
0

Tractamatt added 12:07 - Jul 22 Talking to a couple of gooners this morning and they reckon he's a good player with loads of potential but tends to be a bit moody even in training and around the dressing room, If pj can straighten him out I think he would be an excellent signing for the future.
0

bizman added 12:27 - Jul 22 My Boss is a Gooners fan and he said to me when learning of this story quote "If Ipswich sign JEMT I'll be furious with Wenger, a season long loan would be better, I can't believe they haven't promoted him to first team".
0

AndyUK61873 added 13:06 - Jul 22 i see a lot of commnets and concerns on the defence, which I would agree with, howvere if the right players are not available that fits PJ mindset and thinking then why waste money on somebody that does not work....we can sit here and list this player or that player, but if the price tag is too high or the other club is not willing to sell then that player becomes a non-factor. There are few defenders out there that have real quality that we or any championshoip team can bring in. Even premier league clubs are struggling to find defenders that are better than they have and that is where the process must start for us.

0

comeonthegoodtimes added 13:08 - Jul 22 If this takes the same amount of time as the Sami Nasri and Cese Fabregas deals then i'm thinking he will be a good player for whoever in a couple of years, Thats where Arsenal and ourselves are very similar, I'm all for waiting though if deals like this come off, it's just a bit frustrating when we seem to chase a player for weeks on end and they finally sign a new contract at the club or a late deal comes in for them from a another club, I don't want us to spend over the odds for players but i feel we can probably go alittle bit higher on our estimations of players, afterall wehat is £1million for a 20year old nowadays. I think for players we want and are sure they will make our team rise in the league and give us that chance of promotion we need to be spending good money, I for one would be happier to spend 6-7 million on two or three good players than keep messing around hoping our 500,000 bid is successfull for a ok player. But still happy with players bought so far, In Paul we trust.

0

Fatboy added 13:12 - Jul 22 Could perhaps fill the role of super-sub / impact player with his pace and height. I wonder if Chopra has had a word with Jewell about this one as they were at Cardiff together for the latter half of last season.
0

Tractamatt added 13:24 - Jul 22 Bizman I wonder ,did your boss go as quiet as my colleagues after we beat them last season, never heard such a quiet building site in all my years.Dont think this will happen though.
0

TerryButchersBandage added 13:34 - Jul 22 I spoke with Paul jewel at a speakers dinner about this lad around 2 months ago and he said that he had been keeping an eye on him even before he took the Ipswich job. Expect this story to legs.
0

gifkins989 added 13:54 - Jul 22 he will be a great siging cus he will be a good pair up with Chropa :)
0

weddings added 14:42 - Jul 22 Didnt look that good in the play off final if i remember he missed two sitters..Still worth a punt at one million.........
0

comeonthegoodtimes added 15:26 - Jul 22 I thought the play off final was Reading V Swansea? don't forget the year before he wasn't that old, I see the pressure being applied already. No wonder young players are not willing to sign if were slatting them already before they even sign. Can we shed some positivity on the subject please.......
0

ITFCSparklepants added 15:47 - Jul 22 Last season the two (arguably) best players in the championship were Scott Sinclair and Adel Taarabt, both were for only 1-2.5 million from Top 6 clubs and both young with potential. Need players like this, more than often pay off.
0

BlueFinn added 15:49 - Jul 22 Get him get him get him, a real promising player, tall and pacey and can play as a winger too. Remember him tormenting Town at PR when he was on loan at Doncaster. Can be off his game too I suppose but when you're young that tends to happen.
0

bizman added 16:31 - Jul 22 Tractamatt -yes he did! And was quite angry actually! If we do end up signing JEMT then it would rub salt in my bosses wounds! -even though they thrashed us in te second leg!
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls