Blues forward Omari Hutchinson insists his focus is on winning the European Championship with England’s U21s rather than his future at club level.

The 21-year-old was one of the Young Lions’ star performers as they beat Czechia 3-1 in their opening fixture in Slovakia last night.

Hutchinson has been linked with a move away from Portman Road this summer with Aston Villa, West Ham and Leeds all credited with an interest, although not via overly reliable sources.

The contract he signed after joining the Blues for a club record £20 million from Chelsea last summer includes a £35 million relegation release clause.

But Hutchinson says, having taken his caps tally to five last night, that his mind is currently on the Euros and the England U21s rather than on a quick return to the Premier League by moving clubs.

“I'm focused on this tournament,” he said. “I just want to win games and I want to win the tournament. I think it's a big tournament for us and this is my main focus.”

He added: ”I think we played really well. The manager wanted us to have a good start because we knew they would come out strong. We got the job done.

“You've got to adapt quickly. It’s a new squad, we hadn't really played together.”

Hutchinson played on the left against the Czechs, rather than the right or centre as he does at Town, and manager Lee Carsley says he likes flexibility from his players.

“I try not to be too restrictive in the positions that players play,” he explained. “It’s more about the attributes and areas of the pitch we can get them into.

“I’ve seen Omari so many times at Ipswich get in that pocket, turn and drive with the ball. If he can do that more often for us and be even more selfish when he’s driving, he’ll never get any complaints from me. The more players we’ve got that can play for England, the better chances we’ve got.

“There’s definitely a tendency, and I’ve done it in the past, to over-coach because of the [short] amount of time you get with the players. If you give someone too much information, they forget it. So it’s just two or three points per player on the areas of the pitch we can cause the opposition a problem.”

Quizzed on whether he agrees with Carsley’s suggestion he should be more selfish, Hutchinson said: “I guess so. When I look back at the video, I’ll see what I can work on.

“I’m just trying to improve and impact the game more. If he’s telling me to dribble more, then I’ll try to dribble more.”

The England youngsters next take on Slovenia on Sunday and Germany next Wednesday before the competition goes into its knockout phase.

Former Blues striker Liam Delap is not in the squad with his new club Chelsea understood to have come to an agreement with the FA which saw him withdrawn from the competition in favour of the Club World Cup in the US.

Town forward Jaden Philogene would have been in the squad but for the knee injury he suffered with the Blues in April.

Photo: IMAGO/Branislav Racko via Reuters Connect

poet added 10:41 - Jun 13 There’s a turn-up for the books. I was never aware of the 35m relegation release clause for Hutchinson. Was anyone on here? Seems to be a bit of a thread running through here when it comes to negotiating contracts. Not sure if it’s within the interests of the club. In my opinion, if we lose Hutchinson, it would be a big backward step.
-3

Linkboy13 added 10:50 - Jun 13 England's best player last night always a threat. Will be amazed if he is still with us next season playing in the championship will be no good for his development in the long term. The only good thing his value would have increased by a couple of million.
-2

Phil1969 added 11:01 - Jun 13 Would be a bit gut wrenching to lose both Delap and Hutchinson especially for £65m. Liverpool have just bought a midfielder for £116m who is off the back of an ACL injury and not a name that leaps at you. Also appreciate Ashtons prowess but we were always odds on to get relegated so these clauses were a bit risky at the levels set.
-3

EuanTown added 11:30 - Jun 13 But if to get the player to sign for your club, that is what was required and agreed, what do you do. Mark says £50m release clause, agent says £20m. Agreed £35m. Same with delap. We all knew there was more chance of relegation than staying up. The agents and players know this. So part of the contract negotiations are the release clause that is agreeable but maybe not acceptable to all parties

9

positivity added 11:36 - Jun 13 would you rather have delap and hutch for a year and 20m quid (worst case scenario) or see your rivals have the players and the money?
6

Rimsy added 11:40 - Jun 13 Sounds like he'll be on his way. This is exactly the model Ashton said we would pursue. Sign young players, improve them and sell for a profit. It's just where we are as a club and this will carry on until we are back in the PL and established. Still a bit of a sickener to lose your best players every year or two.
5

ArnieM added 11:44 - Jun 13 Omari, “ my focus is on winning the Euros”…… Translation. “ My agent is seeking the best deal for me with my new PL club” Or in O’Shea’s words…… “ I’m committed to Town , for the moment”
4

ArnieM added 11:49 - Jun 13 Rimsy : Similar strategy that Brentford have deployed for over a decade now. They got rid of their academy as their players were being cherry picked by bigger London clubs, having spent £m’s on developing these players. Not sure why we are pursuing our own academy really, as the return at the lower end of a players development is not as high as bringing in 20yr olds from big PL clubs, where the player has little hope of establishing themselves ( take note Delap!) and then selling on for a much bigger fee.

0

PackwoodBlue added 12:01 - Jun 13 I think he may also have an eye on being in the senior squad for the World Cup next year. If he has a great tournament now and then signs for a Premier League club, there's every reason to think he may start to appear in senior squads at least and be on Tuchel's radar (depending how he performs in the Premier League of course). Unfortunately, he won't be considered if he's playing in the Championship, no matter how goods he performs. Tuchel pretty much said this about Delap.

1

Bazza8564 added 12:02 - Jun 13 Omari has a £35m clause, most of the lads we signed last summer will have them. The maths seems to indicate double the initial fee we paid, which was 18m for Omari. IMO if someone triggers it, great. £65m for him and Delap to reinvest is a huge sum for a championship club. Listening to the KOA broadcast interview with MA he talked at length about churn. I think for PSR purposes Lief will go too, somewhere around £20m. Sell those three and have £85m to spend, i'm all over that if i'm honest. 100% !! We shouldn't have any trouble attracting replacements, and watch the "loan with an obligation" market too. Downes will sign, Jens with luck, and then with the other £60m..... And the one i'd go after on loan if we could get him? Harvey Elliot 12m loan with an obligation. he won't get near a game at Liverpool now, and he wants to play/ Hed get a game here It's probably time for my pills now, Nurse!

-1

PackwoodBlue added 12:06 - Jun 13 Agree @Bazza8564. Regarding Elliot though, I think he would be much more likely to go on load to a "lower" Premier League club for the season or one of the newly promoted clubs, than come to us.
1

dazza added 12:36 - Jun 13 Not knocking a couple of the posts above, but I think people need to understand how players contracts are negiotated. Ashton (or the club) wouldn’t have put in a relegation release clause upfront, this is more likely what Omari’s agent insisted was put in to protect his clients interests before they would sign. I expect the club had a go at negotiating that out or a higher fee, but ultimately their hands are tied if the agent won’t budge.

4

ArnieM added 12:46 - Jun 13 Downes is the last player I'd have bavk here. He's a rotten apple. Let him follow his "besitie" to Glasgow Rangers.... Scottish football, a graveyard for wannabies who can't make it in the English game.
3

Phil1969 added 12:53 - Jun 13 Let’s hope others don’t have Division One clauses then ! Getting rid of your best players who have bedded down is no recipe for promotion however much £ you have in your back pocket. I don’t buy they wouldn’t have signed. Omari was going nowhere until McKenna got hold of him !
1

Karlosfandangal added 12:54 - Jun 13 £35 million is a lot to pay for a player who did not have the best of seasons in the Prem,West Hsm and Leeds will want players who can make an impact straight away not one to develop. I would guess Hutchinson will want to play week in week out. On the other hand Town do have plenty of cover so may cash in if Hutchinson wants to go If McKenna goes than I think a very good chance he will

1

poet added 13:19 - Jun 13 ArnieM, no sure if anyone has actually mentioned Downes to make a comeback. But I fully agree with you. He’s demonstrated at Southampton that he still hasn’t stopped stamping his feet if things don’t work out the way he wants them to. On top of that, in my opinion, he’s a middle of the road Championship player. He ended up being a mistake by Moyes when he was West Ham’s manager. He struggled to get a game. He never shone at Southampton either. No, we don’t want him back at Portman Road.

0

SickParrot added 13:40 - Jun 13 I would be surprised if any club is willing to pay 35 million for him at the moment. He is talented and has the potential to become an outstanding player but he looked light weight and out of his depth in many games last season. He is still young and inexperienced and I genuinely believe that he needs another year of guidance from Kieran and a full season in the Championship before he will be ready for the Premier League.

2

ArnieM added 14:45 - Jun 13 Poet: someone further up did mention Downes which is why I posted my thoughts on him. The worst thing he did fir his career was jump ship the way he did. He's done absolutely nothing on the field of play since he left us. I watched quite a bit of him fir Saints last season and felt he'd gone decidedly backwards in his play. I'd hate us to go in for him, there's far better players out there in my humble opinion.

0

Murphys_Law added 15:39 - Jun 13 I still think he’s ‘potential’ didn’t really shine at prem level. A good season with us and he either goes up with us or shows he’s really worth it for a prem team. Stay and do the business young man and then decide.
1

DannyITFC added 16:33 - Jun 13 If someone wants to spend £35m for him then great, he did ok in the prem but was lost in most games and needs much more development before he’s considered at that level. We have plenty of players in that position so I wouldn’t think it’s a huge loss if he goes. The CM is a position we really need to strengthen though, Morsey at the twilight of his career, then there is Taylor who is an average champ player at best….. if we sell Hutchinson added to the Delap funds we will go get a couple of decent CM and no9.

0

DannyITFC added 16:33 - Jun 13 If someone wants to spend £35m for him then great, he did ok in the prem but was lost in most games and needs much more development before he’s considered at that level. We have plenty of players in that position so I wouldn’t think it’s a huge loss if he goes. The CM is a position we really need to strengthen though, Morsey at the twilight of his career, then there is Taylor who is an average champ player at best….. if we sell Hutchinson added to the Delap funds we will go get a couple of decent CM and no9.

0

armchaircritic59 added 17:50 - Jun 13 Omari is a very promising talent, but I'll tell you this, there is no way I'd be shelling out £35M for him if I had anything to do with a Premier League club or similar abroad. Still needs to consistently prove himself to justify that sum. He may well do, we will see.
1

Dissboyitfc added 18:11 - Jun 13 ATM he is not a premier league player, he will be in time! Can’t see anyone paying 35mil!
0

Bazza8564 added 18:20 - Jun 13 Guys I can tell you for fact that KM wants Downes here. We tried to sign him in January but Southampton wouldn't release him to a relegation rival. He, along with Doak who was on loan at Boro from Liverpool were top targets we failed to land. Not saying we should, saying we will. And yes Elliot won't fancy a drop down, but he wants to play and hes still so young. Where is he going to start every week in the PL? It's a long shot, but money talks and a loan with an obligation at £25-30m for a midfielder like him, cheap as chips if he helps get us up.

0

ArnieM added 22:48 - Jun 13 .....and Downes turned McKenna's advances dien last summer. So thst should be an end to it. The guy doesnt want to be here, has no respect for this club and the feeling from many Town fans is reciprocated towards the player.
0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls