TWTD understands the Blues are in talks with former Portsmouth striker Oli Hawkins.

A big frontman has been among manager Paul Lambert’s main targets this summer and at 6ft 5in tall Hawkins certainly fits that bill.

The 28-year-old started his career in non-league with North Greenford, Hillingdon Borough, Northwood, Hemel Hempstead Town and Harrow Borough.

The Ealing-born striker got his break in league football when Dagenham and Redbridge signed him in January 2016.

In August 2017, the Daggers by now in the National League, Hawkins moved on to Portsmouth.

The centre forward, who has also operated at centre-half on occasion, scored 18 goals in 71 starts and 25 sub appearances before being released by Pompey, with whom he won the EFL Trophy in 2018/19, when his contract was up this summer.

Last season he was rarely involved, and when he was often in central defence, failing to find the net in nine starts and four sub appearances.

Hawkins was previously linked with the Blues in January 2017 when he was with the Daggers with Town subsequently signing another towering striker, Kieffer Moore, from Forest Green Rovers.

On the day Moore joined the Blues, ex-Town winger Darren Currie, then the Daggers' assistant manager, gave BBC Radio Suffolk's Life's a Pitch his thoughts on the pair.

“Oliver’s very similar to Kieffer Moore, obviously I’m going to be biased and say Oliver’s better!” Currie said.

“He’s another one that for a big man is good on the floor, very mobile for a big man, he’s got goals. He’s filled in at centre-half for us once or twice and he’s looked very comfortable there as well.

“He’s a great kid to work with, very humble boy, came from Hemel Hempstead, so his roots are very good and he’s gathering interest as well because he’s been playing very well.”

Hawkins could be one of three new additions with the Blues also holding contract talks with left-back Stephen Ward and goalkeeper David Cornell, as TWTD revealed earlier today.

Meanwhile, Town have organised an in-house game for Saturday, their previously scheduled game having fallen through.

Peterborough similarly saw a proposed match fall by the wayside and, after it was suggested the two took on one another, owner Darragh MacAnthony tweeted that he had contacted Blues manager Paul Lambert only to be told Town already have plans.

Photo: Action Images

ShropshireBluenago09 added 22:18 - Aug 13 How many times in the past have we cried out for a striker that can hold up the ball . Now hopefully we have one. Not fussed about his goal record, he wil. Be perfect fodder for Norwood.
2

WorcesterBlue added 22:41 - Aug 13 Seen him play and imo not the standard we should be looking for. But as usual in the absence of any meaningful scouting (an issue for 10-15 years) we go for the obvious which mainly means others cast offs. Wycombe and others sign players and improve them. I'm not sure what the hell we do but it isn't that. Frankly the whole thing is rotten from top to bottom.
5

WorcesterBlue added 22:43 - Aug 13 But fingers crossed for the guy if we comes and at least he is a tryer so that's more than Keane was. Maybe, just maybe???
0

Bert added 22:55 - Aug 13 If the persistent detractors on here actually watched Town at home they would realise we had nobody who could connect with crosses in the air. This is the new normal so time to be realistic about what we can get in. League One is about bullying the opposition so we have to learn to accept that rather than be rolled over. It isn't pretty as Leeds, Sunderland et al found out.

2

BettyBlue added 23:23 - Aug 13 If Town were actually signing someone their first move is surely not to leak our interest? or confirm it? Action speaks louder than hot air. Still looking in the same empty Bargain Bin we have for the last 10 years. And what gems has anyone discovered yet? And how many loan players have played a second season.... There can't be another club more poorly managed and organised that ITFC.

3

Skip73 added 23:46 - Aug 13 Definitely worth a punt. His goalscoring isn't phenominal but he's more of a player who holds the ball up and lays it on for his strike partner which we've been badly lacking since Murphy left.
2

Skip73 added 23:49 - Aug 13 Betty; Mings and Waghorn are 2 gems that spring to mind, both signed by McCarthy......cue 20 downvotes for mentioning MM.
0

budgieplucker added 00:09 - Aug 14 Fine by me under the current circumstances, I have been complaining for months that we need a big lump up front to start bullying sides rather than be bullied. Take a leaf out of Rotherham's book and provide physicality to grind teams down. Now get 6 ft 5 Harry Souter at the back on loan from Stoke, he was the giant who gobbled up everything for Fleetwood when they came to Portman Road last season. Hawkins, Souter and send Holy up for corners will frighten any defence in this league. Get aggressive get serious, should never have let Moore go; Cardiff just paid £2 million for him and he was romping this league with Barnsley with about 15 goals at the halfway stage before he got injured.

0

Oldozblue added 00:27 - Aug 14 Yes there are bargain frees and cheap transfers and you also need experience. But Ipswich have oldies Skuse, Wilson and Chambers already. Mings came from non-league and Keiffer Moore from Forest Green both for nominal fees. Signing "mature", established lower league players who are not going any higher looks very Division One survival mode to me like an Oldham or Rochdale. Does not seem ambitious.

2

runaround added 00:29 - Aug 14 We lacked a striker who could hold the ball up & win flick ons. Hawkins can do that knows this level & can cover central defence. Hope he joins. To all those moaning he is not good enough, give him a chance and remember that with the salary cap restrictions we have little room to buy quality
0

Paramedic added 00:51 - Aug 14 It's not all about signing new players. We have a talented squad it's about a system, finding the right one and sticking to it, and finding the right pegs that fill the right holes. No disrespect to Hawkins but he sounds like the type of player, if we sign him, who will have balls coming to him out of the air at every opportunity. Could be a good signing but we really need to get the best out of what we have. That was our downfall last year, I really hope Mr Lambert has learnt from those mistakes.

0

Radlett_blue added 08:58 - Aug 14 A pound shop Kieffer Moore, but that's where Town are right now.
2

blues1 added 09:06 - Aug 14 Good to see some sensible posts on here. But it never ceases to amaze me how hypocritical many who post on here are. Ever since Murphy left, people have been moaning that we havent replaced him. Now, we're trying to sign that player, they're still moaning. No, his goal record isnt massively impressive, but then, nor was Murphys prior to us signing g him. And in fact, other than that 1 I credible season ge had, wasnt that great when he was here neither . But he gave us that physical presence up front and was able to hold the ball up and bring others into the game. This guy should be able to do that, and hes younger than Murphy, who many were still saying we should resign this season. So why not just wait and see, and give the guy a chance before writing him off. In quite sure if we signed messi and Ronaldo those fans would still moan.(and before some1 suggests I think that's possible, I'm just making a point that some would moan whoever we signed).

-1

ArnieM added 09:20 - Aug 14 It's about creating a “ team”, not necessarily gaining stand out individuals. Ollie Hawkins is likely to be able to offer “ the team” something that the rest of the players in the squad currently can't do. SBR and Burleys built successful teams based around pockets of “ partnerships” all over the pitch . That's the way forward this season.
2

dirtydingusmagee added 09:22 - Aug 14 Oldozblue I agree with you . We dont appear to be very ambitious ,and have accepted Lge1 as our level, that shouldnt surprise anyone ,we have shown little if any ambition for a long time,we have had chances to be in with a shout of promotion in past and the chances have been missed.We have now got ourselves into a deep hole and im afraid whilst the present regime have the shovel, the hole will just get deeper.

0

ArnieM added 09:25 - Aug 14 Disagree totally ^^^^ Town are operating within the severe financial constraints imposed this season. Do you this Club to go the way if Wigan, Sheffield Weds, and soon you be Derby County ? If our best players can stay fit I can't see a better first 11 in this division tbh.
0

Linkboy13 added 09:28 - Aug 14 Don't know nothing about him so im not going to right him off like some of the experts on here. But the alarm bells started ringing when i read he can also play centre half . But the team needs more of a physical presence and most games last season we were out muscled . I'm afraid we're not shopping at M&S anymore so the fact he can also play centre half it's more like Tesco's buy one get one free policy from now on.

0

ArnieM added 09:28 - Aug 14 And For the record , other than ONE purple season , Murphy goal return was a career average of 10goals per season. Pretty shocking for a main striker Imo !
0

Nobbysnuts added 09:45 - Aug 14 Can't see ward flying down the left wing with his zimmer frame supplying the crosses somehow........🤥
-1

Town4me added 09:48 - Aug 14 Spoke to a Pompey fan friend and he's disappointed they haven't kept him. He said he's not the most naturally gifted footballer but does so much for the team with bringing others into play.
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 10:02 - Aug 14 Bloke I work with is a massive Pompey fan, says Hawkins is good at what he does and can hold his own CB.... could be the new BamBam....
0

Linkboy13 added 10:10 - Aug 14 Good point ArnieM Jackson scores 11 goals and 8 assists and the numpties on here want to get rid of him strange people fans .
0

unknown100 added 10:27 - Aug 14 Why do we need a target man? It encourages bad football Aguero, aubamayang, vardy, Martial, a target man isn't about being 6”5 and being able to head the ball, it's about holding the ball up when it's put into your feet and bring others into the game, route one football next year it is then
0

Town4me added 10:40 - Aug 14 Unknown 100. Not necessarily. It just gives us a plan B, which we didn't have last season.
1

busterjames1 added 10:47 - Aug 14 Much rather we got Darren Currie on board !
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls