Kipre Obligation Triggered But Not Cajuste's
Saturday, 2nd May 2026 21:03

Town’s promotion to the Premier League this afternoon is understood to have turned Cedric Kipre’s move from Ligue 2 Stade Reims into a permanent switch, but Jens Cajuste hasn’t made enough appearances this season to trigger the obligation included in his loan deal.

Kipre and Cajuste both joined the Blues on loan for the season last summer, the Swedish midfielder for a second campaign.

According to Fabrizio Romano, an obligation to buy Kipre for €2.5 million (£2.16 million) has been triggered, although last summer the figure was reported as €4.5 million (£3.9 million).

Ivorian international Kipre made 29 Championship starts and three sub appearances, scoring three goals, including the opener in the East Anglian derby victory over Norwich at Portman Road.

Cajuste, one of the standout performers in the Blues’ 2024/25 Premier League campaign, has made only 13 Championship starts and 17 sub appearances this season and, according to Romano, this is not enough to activate the obligation to buy for €7.5 million (£6.5 million) in his loan deal from Napoli.

The clause required promotion and the Sweden international to play 50 per cent of the Blues’ games. Although Cajuste has played 30 games in total, it seems likely he was required to start half Town’s Championship matches.

However, the Blues could still opt to sign the Gothenburg-born midfielder anyway with the terms of the clause available to them until June 10th.

Photo: Matchday Images

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WorcesterBlue added 10:27 - May 3

We’ve struggled against any kind of physicality and pace for two seasons at least. Few of the current team, midfield especially can step up. We need (unfortunately) to gut the team and sign players with the physicality for the prem. Wide right and Left I’d probably stick with plus matisuwa with a classy runner or two alongside. Back 4 plus Kipre ok but need better full backs and one prem class cb. Up front two proper strikers

WorcesterBlue added 10:32 - May 3 I think what is agreed in the next month will determine whether KM is here or at Palace next season. Important Ashton shows they genuinely want to make a fist of staying up or are just building an asset and buying players for resale (as is my suspicion). KM has been dealt a hard hand with some of the terrible signings this year. Things need to improve!
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AJW1971 added 10:59 - May 3 The direction we take on some of the loans in / out will depend on the size of the pot we have for the transfer market as well as whether mck stays or goes
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BerksBlue15 added 11:00 - May 3

Lots of bemoaning of signings but still think on the whole we've got far more right than we have wrong. Akpom didn't turn out the way we hoped but when we signed him, I think we were all excited to have a Champ golden boot joining with the prospect of securing him longer term too if we went up. Shame that like Szmodics, being a goal machine elsewhere no guarantee of success in a different team and/or system

Marinersnose added 11:14 - May 3 Kipre will be a good squad player but too many mistakes for a PL starter as mistakes are punished as we know. Cajuste was superb last time out in the PL but he’s not shown the commitment when he has had opportunities and in fact has looked lazy. We need a huge upgrade in midfield imo if we are to have any chance of staying up and McKenna will be acutely aware.
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Linkboy13 added 11:20 - May 3 If you've played the game there's one thing manager's dislike and that's lack of effort or passion and Cajuste didn't show any of that his body language was very negative and like last season he will find it difficult getting a club. If he's so suited to the Premier league why didn't anyone show any interest.
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bluetoba added 11:47 - May 3 Slightly suspicious that we will have a new manager as well as players come August.
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Saxonblue74 added 11:56 - May 3 As others have said, and as was proven last season Jens suits the prem. A no brainer for me, quality and already settled in.
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shadoof1016 added 13:08 - May 3

Said last season Cajuste did not cut it and was panned for it but so what it’s an opinion but he not a Prem player by any standard as proven when he journeyed around Europe looking for a non existent club who would take him. Wish him well but not here please.
It’s going to be a tough summer but hoping Mr Court has identified good players nobody has heard of. This is some journey we all thought not possible not so long ago and it has been wonderful but not so good for the heart and the hair is a different shade of grey. Best wishes to all supporters for the summer and COYB next season.

TomCruise added 13:58 - May 3

2.5 million for Kipre is a good deal, he has contributed this season and earned a place in the squad for next.

I think the same can probably be said for Azon, I don't know how much it would cost to make that permanent. If it's not too much, sign him up. We will need a 3rd striker though - someone a step up in quality.

I'd move on from Cajuste now. No room for sentimentality if we want to stay in the prem and progress.

Same for Neil and Akpom. Good championship players but not what we need moving forward.

Will be interesting to see what business we do over the summer.

We have a few players who have contributed and deserve a place in the squad next season; Furlong, Taylor, McAteer (eventually) but they are not Premier league proven and do we all really think Nunez and Mehmeti are going to be good enough in the Prem?

IndependentlyBlue added 14:17 - May 3

Think Kipre should stay, good squad player, knows our systems, bit of a beast if needs be.

Cajuste too, much better fit and gets a bit more time/space in the Prem, also knows our systems.

Don’t think we’ll sign Akpom. Thought he’d be ok but hasn’t really done it, not sure why

Definitely keep Azon. Know what people say about not so many goals yet but again he knows our systems and he’s a real menace. He’s improving game by game

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IndependentlyBlue added 15:07 - May 3

TownSupporter added 16:04 - May 3

Keep Azon. Have we been watching a different player? His finishing is worse than Hirst's. That's saying something.

All strikers need replacing.

Cajuste not good enough you can't rely on a player that cannot at least get through 90 minutes. Going to need some running battle axes for central midfield in the Prem.

Not sure Nunez will cut it either. Had more non existent games than stand outs.

Cloddyseedbed added 16:59 - May 3 Can't believe the love for Cajuste, what did he do the last season he played for us? Lazy, no pace and an attitude problem. I am not doubting his skill, but that alone isn't enough in a 'team'.
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armchaircritic59 added 19:34 - May 3

I think most posters would agree that absolute essentials in the PL are players that have physique, power and pace ( not necessarily in every position )and a modicum of skill to go with them. That much we took from 24/25.

Going through the squad as it stands right now, a huge irony struck me. There is just one player in it that I can think of that has all 3 and one more that doesn't quite have the outright pace ( but has some ). Step forward Kasey McAteer and Jack Taylor. As I said, what an irony it would turn out to be if two players who have both copped plenty of vitriol for not being good enough for a promotion chasing Championship team, turned out to be valuable players in the PL!

In KM's case our other KM (!) stated in here in an interview about 3 months or so ago that Kasey McAteer had been bought more as a medium/long term development project than an immediate impact player, which I most definitely think we've now started to see, and I believe there's more to come. As for JT, well he's definitely stepped up to the plate as this season has gone on. Will they both prove good enough? They are both on an upward curve. I don't have a crystal ball but it wouldn't come as a great shock to me if they did. That old saying, time will tell rears it's head again.

filobiz added 00:10 - May 4 i don't know about you but i think kipre is a superb! i'd play him every day over greaves. kipre is solid, and his ball skills are class. love his passes out of defence, all the others just tap it sideways to the next man with no confidence; he has vision, and can score goals. i'd start him every game if i was manager! ;)
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philpott2 added 07:38 - May 4

If we are going to make a host of signings then I really hope we get them done early.
Kipre and Azon to sign, maybe Cajuste if we've a host of players leaving.
Definitely need two or three quicker players with a bit of guile and bite, especially in midfield.
We need a better right back, a main man up front (Delap would do for sure, but a.n.other as well as Azon for me, so we'll need four in all along with Hirst, who showed what he can do in that last game, likely because we played attacking & off the front foot football). I do fear, however we will be ponderous, standing on the ball, flat footed and inviting every team to attack us at will next season.....and we will get crucified.
Greaves can do the left back cover for Leif, as we've seen, but then we need a decent quality centre-half to come into the squad as well.
Not sure our players out on loan will get another go i.e Chaplin, Ogbenne, H Clarke, Humphreys, Al-Hamadi and the like.
Here we go with the revolving door again ....but please, please, please don't let them go for any more promising championship players and find some finished articles like Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford seem to unearth.

philpott2 added 07:50 - May 4

For me, our system (especially when we aren't playing with attacking intent) needs our main striker to run around, hassle and harass and wear down the opposition defenders. Azon does that far more effectively than Hirst, and has a better touch. He's young and learning, having improved massively since the start. He pulls players out of the central areas to create space for others regularly during games.
Delap, after all, being bigger, stronger and quicker, scored many of his goals from the halfway line, battling his way into the box (& he only really bothered up until Xmas, with about 4 months of effort before the burden of being our only striker wore him out). But there aren't too many front players in the UK that can do that, unless we pay big money, and also can they be convinced to sign for us!!!

churchmans added 08:41 - May 4

KIPRE gone well off the boil,got his arse handed to him at wrexham,premiership way to much qaulity for him and its no coincidence that greaves has been a starter since!
Squad player defo!
Cajuste is prem proven we no that already!
Look we need virtually 5/6 players who will be regular starterd! I know its easy to get carried away with it all but we got battered last season with a better team imo! Wholedale changes needed starting with some strikers

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churchmans added 08:46 - May 4 PHILPOTT2 we are not a creche for strikers to come and try and get better thats what the academy is for! Azon cant score!!!! We gona beed goals The club needs to sign players like delap,vipotnik!
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Linkboy13 added 10:28 - May 4 To be fair to Cajuste he has ability but is not motivated playing for Ipswich and probably thinks he's a Premier league player but nobody came in for him last season and like anyone looking for employment needed a job to go to in the morning.
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philpott2 added 18:17 - May 4

Churchmans....there hasn't been an attacking player from the academy anywhere near the match day squad. We don't / haven't had anybody being raved about in the academy for quite some time.
And we can't attract or afford somebody top level, hence Delap last time (and he was last minute after the Broja farce).
Azon has scored, he's fluffed a few, he's had some worldly saves made against his efforts, but his all round play is a level above Hirst.
I've seen some dreadful forward players for Town over the last nearly 60 years (& defenders).
We were allegedly after the Chelsea Guiu for a while over the last summer....suspect we will be doing something like that again.