Ipswich Town are set to sign Everton full-back Luke Garbutt on a season-long loan as reported by the East Anglian Daily Times via twtd.co.uk.
The twenty-six-year-old spent last season on loan at Oxford United and played some of the best football of his career as U’s boss Karl Robinson converted him to a left-winger, and the impressive spell prompted moves by Oxford to try and bring the former England Under-21 international back to the Kassam Stadium for 2019/20.
However, according to the latest report, Garbutt looks set to sign for League One rivals Ipswich Town as manager Paul Lambert looks to build a squad capable of mounting a challenge for an immediate return to the Championship.
Once regarded as the long-term successor to Leighton Baines at Goodison Park Garbutt has struggled to break through at Goodison Park after featuring in several Europa League games and signing a five year deal with the Toffees in 2015.
The versatile left-sided player has clocked up over one hundred and fifty EFL appearances in various loan spells away from Merseyside at Wigan, Colchester, Fulham and Oxford.
The report claims Garbutt is set to become Paul Lambert’s fourth signing of the summer and will join up with the Town squad for the back end of their pre-season training camp in Germany and could be involved in the four-team Interwetten Cup at Meppen on Sunday.
Our View
Having missed out on Danny Mayor this will be welcome news for Town fans but a disappointment for Oxford United supporters.
Garbutt was far from impressive at left-back for the U’s but excellent when pushed further forward, and Karl Robinson was keen to take him back to the Kassam Stadium.
It now looks like he is heading to Portman Road and will bring quality and versatility to the Tractor Boys left side.
Good signing, in our opinion, if the report is accurate.
