TWTD understands Premier League Burnley are now the front-runners to sign former Blues loanee Jens Cajuste from Serie A champions Napoli, despite Italian claims of a renewed Town approach for the Sweden international.

Over the weekend, the 25-year-old, who is not in head coach Antonio Conte’s plans at Napoli, appeared set to join Turkish side Besiktas on loan - for an initial fee of €1 million (£863,000) with a €6.5 million (£5.6 million) buy option - with a reports that a medical had been pencilled in.

However, yesterday it emerged that the player was still to make his mind on the switch and the move was on hold.

Last night, an Italian report claimed that that hesitation had been caused by a new Blues approach, Town boss Kieran McKenna having made it clear at the end of the season that he would like the former Reims man to return to Portman Road following his impressive loan spell, but while accepting “there’s probably a lot to do for that to happen”.

However, while the Blues still retain an interest in Cajuste, there has been no new move over the last 24 hours.

We understand newly promoted Burnley are now leading the chase, while the Besiktas deal is not yet dead, although with the Istanbul club close to signing another midfielder, Turkish international Orkun Kökçü, from Benfica.

Italian reports are also linking Sevilla, with Napoli claimed to have offered Cajuste as a makeweight in a deal to sign 21-year-old Spain U23 international winger Juanlu.

However, as it stands, it appears a return to the Premier League with Burnley, where he would link-up with former Town teammate Axel Tuanzebe, who signed on at Turf Moor on a free transfer earlier in the window, looks the most likely move for Cajuste this summer.

The one-time Midtjylland man made 26 starts and seven sub appearances for the Blues during 2024/25, scoring once, and was beaten to the Supporters Player of the Year award by Liam Delap by only 36 votes.

Photo: Matchday Images

ScottCandage added 19:44 - Jul 8 Godot took less time to show up...
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Ippy89 added 19:55 - Jul 8 1) People saying that Cajuste is not good for enough for the premier league = Wrong 2) People saying they don’t want to sign him if he doesn’t want to be here = Wrong. He/his agent is clearly giving Ipswich the last bite of the cherry. If we can’t or won’t match Burnley then it’s not right for the club. 3) If you are bored of reading reports on Cajuste, stop clicking on them. Cajuste, you were my player of the season and I’d love to see you tear up the championship. Enjoy silly season people.

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wischip added 19:55 - Jul 8 Enough already. We need 2 central midfielders. I fear that too much time is being spent on finding the perfect Premiership level player now. I know the long term aim is to sign Premiership quality players in readiness for The Return but until then it really wouldn't hurt to sign a solid, seasoned central midfielder who's had a few seasons in the Championship playing 30+ games a season & not injury prone. Same with another striker.

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Linkboy13 added 19:58 - Jul 8 He's obviously got no feelings for Ipswich town so we need to move on. I think and hope we have other targets lined up that haven't been documented and signings are on the horizon.
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Bluewelshman added 20:01 - Jul 8 YAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWNNNNNNN!!! Don't care any more, move on to some who is not using the handful of matches he was ok in whilst he was in the prem, and our clubs good name to get him a better move. Town should not be playing his and the agents games, cos our club has integrity. COYB
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DavoIPB added 20:04 - Jul 8 Same as last season. Linked with players. Then they end up signing for other teams whilst we delve into expensive UK market for players not as good for the level we are at
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wischip added 20:14 - Jul 8 I'm thinking about the time we wasted last year chasing Broja. Dodged a bullet there but wasted a lot of effort neverthless.
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carljames1978 added 20:22 - Jul 8 We have the money from the Delap sale plus parachute payments. Why are we not making signings of real intent to show the rest of the league we mean business….. McKenna always likes his signings completed early but here we are weeks away from Birmingham and nothing at all.
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Denny32 added 20:24 - Jul 8 This could be karma for us been inflicted with muric
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Liamblue93 added 20:25 - Jul 8 Bit worrying that this is the only link so far and it looks like it's not going to happen anyway. You look at the other teams in the championship and dare I say it Norwich and what they've done so far is a bit worrying. At the current moment, this team ain't good enough to get promotion back to the premier league without decent and experienced signings
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AbujaBlue added 21:01 - Jul 8 What a fickle bunch on here. This story will drag on for a bit but I laugh when posters suddenly snap and declare he's being disloyal and even that we don't need him after a few days off speculation. In the championship? He'd be an insane signing. Who are we going to sign of his calibre instead? I suspect he'll move to wherever furthers his career the most. Can't blame him really?

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herfie added 21:02 - Jul 8 Best to accept that he won’t be returning; the ‘will he won’t he’ saga saps supporters’ energy! Have to hope, however, that MA/KM have other, more substantive, irons in the fire. But agree there is an increasing worry that nothing much is seeping into the media regarding potential signings - or departures. Keeping the faith that our owners remain fully committed to funding team improvements.

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Ralphinho added 21:08 - Jul 8 Crikey, you lot are miserable. Phil - thanks for keeping us posted. In this dry spell, bad news is still better than no news! Agree with another commenter, Cajuste clearly prem level and was also my player of the season. Head and shoulders above most, a Rolls Royce midfielder who would excel in the championship. I hope it happens. If it doesn't, I wish him the best and hope that he doesn't regret his choice when we switch places with Burnley next season.

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Ralphinho added 21:09 - Jul 8 Oh, and the obligatory: I should never have fallen in love with a plan player.
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Ralphinho added 21:11 - Jul 8 A loan player. Loan.
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midastouch added 21:24 - Jul 8 The only thing moving in this transfer window is the scroll bar on TWTD! TWTD – Targets Watched, Then Disappear Up The Town! :-)
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garytheturtle added 21:26 - Jul 8 Come on people , this would be the signing of the season. He’s an awesome player & used wisely would in my opinion see us promoted How could you not want him !!
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bluelad7 added 21:36 - Jul 8 Jens will be with us. He won’t want to get relegated twice. Promoted? Definitely with us.
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TimmyH added 21:40 - Jul 8 As I said without the Cajuste soap opera which is never ending we would have nowt transfer activity...
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JeremiahBrown added 21:44 - Jul 8 I feel it is his agent who is messing him and everyone around, His agent obviously doesn't want him to come to us.
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Juggsy added 22:16 - Jul 8 Enough already! Just hope someone signs him quick
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Juggsy added 22:17 - Jul 8 Burnley going after the players that couldn’t keep us up just as we did to theirs previously. I see a pattern forming!
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midastouch added 22:18 - Jul 8 A true anagram of Jens Cajuste is Just Ace Jens. Won't feel so ace if he signs for Burnley though. Doesn't he know it's grim up north?
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dirtydingusmagee added 22:44 - Jul 8 faffing around again , why do we keep getting bogged down with non commital players ? move on before the clock runs down we need a settled side .
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armchaircritic59 added 00:00 - Jul 9 I'm well aware how easy it is to get bogged down in transfer dealings when you want a certain player and club " A " is willing to do the deal, but are waiting for club " B " to let them have a player they are after first, and on it goes. However, that can't surely be happening to every target we have, assuming we do have some! I wonder if the OH situation is paying any sort of part too? However, as I type, we are just coming into the 34th day of the transfer window, a handful of days away from the pre season Austrian trip, and just 32 days away from our opening game. I said in another post, as far as I was concerned we needed all the transfer business done or very nearly done by the pre season tour, to give players time to bed in and get used to what KM required of them. Seems little hope of that now, unless it goes crazy during the rest of this week. I also said almost two weeks ago, that I hope it doesn't become a case of ITFC fiddling while the Championship burns. Let's all hope we are in for some nice surprises and very quickly!

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