Ipswich Town may have overtaken Besiktas as the front runners to sign Jens Cajuste after a new report on the player’s next move.
Cajuste looks likely to leave Napoli this summer, and multiple clubs, such as The Tractor Boys, Aston Villa and Udinese have shown interest in the defensive midfielder. However, it has been the Turkish side Besiktas who have been in pole position to sign the Swedish international, with Fabrizio Romano revealing three days ago that a deal had been agreed between clubs for a season-long loan which could become permanent should conditions be met.
Major Twist Emerges
However, according to reports from Football Italia which were followed up by the Ipswich Star, talks between Cajuste and the Istanbul side have stalled due to Ipswich lodging an enquiry over their former loan star, who played 33 times last season as they returned to the Premier League. Despite an all around tough season for the Suffolk side, Cajuste showed his ability at Portman Road alongside captain Sam Morsy in a double pivot.
Kieran McKenna has previously discussed the possibility of signing Cajuste on a permanent deal, but admitted at the start of May that any potential move would be difficult to complete. Had Town stayed up in the top flight last season, an eight-figure fee would have been paid to complete a permanent move for Cajuste to remain in Ipswich.
Cajuste joined Napoli in 2023 and had a solid but fruitless season which only saw him make 11 Serie A starts. Upon the arrival of Antonio Conte at the club, the 25-year-old has found himself on the outside looking in, leading to his loan move to Ipswich.
Writers’ View
Despite the level of football that Besiktas can offer Jens Cajuste, it seems that his time at Ipswich has had a major impact on him to see what looked likely to be a confirmed deal sputter out in the matter of days. The midfielder was by Kieran McKenna’s own admission one of the club’s better players last season in a difficult campaign so their official entry into the transfer battle with an enquiry was to be expected. Whether the Suffolk club can make a suitable offer to Napoli for their former player remains to be seen though.
