Ipswich Town have got Middlesbrough goalkeeper Seny Dieng on their summer radar, as reported by The Telegraph, with the hopes of bringing in another shot stopper for next season to really push Vaclav Hladky for the number one spot.
The Tractor Boys do not yet know what division they’ll be in next season just yet, but will be hoping that they can gain promotion to the Premier League for the first time since 2002. Sat at the top of the Championship table currently, they’re in a great position to do just that but only two points separate the top three currently.
If they did make it into the Premier League, then Ipswich would’ve achieve back-to-back promotions and manager Kieran McKenna has obviously gained plenty of attention as a result. With six games left to go, the manager knows that if the side win out, then they’ll be playing in the top flight next season. McKenna will be wanting to take each game as it comes though and not let the potential future get in the way of the club at the present.
That being said, there are already some murmurs of recruitment with next season in mind. Middlesbrough’s Seny Dieng, who only joined the club this season emerging as an early transfer target.
Dieng has had a solid season at the Riverside Stadium and has held the club’s number one position for the majority of the time since joining. A thigh injury would keep him out of action from the end of December until the start of March, but the Senegalese international is now back between the sticks.
Middlesbrough have somewhat struggled this season at points, or at least maybe haven’t met their lofty expectations from last season but nonetheless Dieng has still had a good year. Keeping nine clean sheets in 29 matches and conceding 38 goals emphasises the ‘keeper’s quality and he’s built on his prior performances with Queens Park Rangers.
Having only signed from QPR in the summer of 2023, the ‘keeper is contracted until 2027 and large fee can be expected to gain his services. It would however be a good move as he is a player who looks ready for a further step-up and also has experience at an international level.
Premier League side Newcastle United are also reportedly interested in the 29-year-old and there could indeed be a bidding war for the ‘keeper this summer. That being said it is still early days, and if Ipswich don’t gain promotion this season, may well not choose to pursue.
Writer’s View
This transfer does seem to very much depend on whether Ipswich get promoted or not, as Dieng will not want to be a back-up in the Championship. Hladky has been immense this season but at 33 years of age, may well soon be past his best.
For a goalkeeper, Dieng is currently in his prime years and would push Hladky a long way for the starting spot if he was to sign. More rumours of Dieng’s future will come in due course but the fact that he is already being rumoured with moves to the Premier League in the form of Newcastle and the potential Championship winners, Ipswich, emphasises his quality.
McKenna does however need to get through these final six games rather than thinking about the future as the summer recruitment will be very different if they make it to the Premier League rather than staying in the Championship.
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