Ipswich Town: Seven potential targets Kieran McKenna has worked with

The Northern Irishman does like to sign players that he knows, having worked with them during his time at Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. Axel Tuanzebe and Brandon Williams are two examples from last season.

With that in mind, Alex Jones has picked out seven players familiar to McKenna that he could look sign ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign...

Teden Mengi played in 30 of Luton Town's 38 Premier League games last season (Image: PA)

Teden Mengi - Luton Town

Teden Mengi joined Manchester United at the age of seven, rising through the ranks of their youth system while also featuring for England at every level from under-15’s to under-21’s.

He went out on loan to Derby County and Birmingham City, but only played a handful of games. He left the Red Devils without a Premier League appearance to his name, joining Luton Town for an undisclosed fee last summer.

The 22-year-old impressed despite the fact that the Hatters were relegated. He primarily played in the middle of a back three but also covered the right side. He’s fast, physical and aggressive. A really strong technical defender.

Luton are in no need to sell, so this one wouldn’t come cheap, but his profile fits what Ipswich want and he would come with Premier League experience. The question is whether the Blues need another right-sided centre-back.

Cameron Carter-Vickers had a loan spell at Portman Road in 2018 (Image: PA)

Cameron Carter-Vickers - Celtic

Cameron Carter-Vickers won’t be an unfamiliar name for Ipswich fans, having joined on loan from Tottenham Hotspur back in 2018. Funnily enough, he worked under McKenna in North London a few years earlier, and was linked with a permanent switch to Portman Road earlier this summer.

He’s since built up significant experience at Championship level, joining Celtic on loan in 2021/22 before making a permanent switch the following summer. He now has three Scottish Premiership titles to his name, having played in the Champions League for Brendan Rodgers’ side too.

Once again, the profile fits. At 26, there’s room for development, but he’s played at a decent level and represents the United States internationally.

However, those question marks regarding the need for a right-sided centre-back remain.

Ethan Laird couldn't help Birmingham City avoid relegation last season (Image: PA)

Ethan Laird - Birmingham City

Ethan Laird joined Manchester United at the age of 10, and like Mengi, he worked his way through the ranks without ever making a Premier League appearance.

His first senior minutes came at League One level with MK Dons, but he’s also had stints in the Championship with Swansea City, Bournemouth and QPR. He left Old Trafford on a permanent basis last summer, joining Birmingham City for an undisclosed fee reported to be £750,000 plus add-ons and a sell-on clause.

McKenna has spoken about him in the past, picking him out ahead of his side’s trip to St. Andrew’s in November. Following their relegation to League One, Laird might be looking for a return to the top level.

The 22-year-old certainly wouldn’t be a regular starter at Portman Road, but his versatility to play at right-back and left-back could catch Town’s eye. It's important that they sign proper cover for Leif Davis, and he could also cover Ben Johnson while Harry Clarke is sidelined.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah [right] joined Bayer Leverkusen after leaving Manchester United (Image: PA)

Timothy Fosu-Mensah - free agent

Mentioned in my list of potential full-backs Ipswich could sign back in January, Timothy Fosu-Mensah has had a tough few years since leaving Manchester United.

The Dutchman joined the Red Devils from Ajax in 2014, breaking into the first team a couple of years later. He had loan spells at Crystal Palace and Fulham, exiting Old Trafford in January 2021 with 16 Premier League appearances to his name.

He signed for Bayer Leverkusen, but struggled with serious knee injuries that severely limited his game time. When he’s been fit this season, he hasn’t been selected by Xabi Alonso, meaning that he missed out on adding the Bundesliga title and DFB Pokal to his personal honours list.

Now a free agent, Fosu-Mensah is just 26 and can play at right-back, centre-back and in midfield. His versatility certainly catches the eye, even if his minutes would be limited in Suffolk.

McKenna helped Tahith Chong progress through the ranks at Manchester United (Image: PA)

Tahith Chong - Luton Town

Going back to Luton, Tahith Chong played alongside current team-mate Mengi at Old Trafford, both working under McKenna. Signed from Feyenoord in 2016, he spent three years in the academy before making it into the first-team squad. From there, he was loaned out to Werder Bremen, Club Brugge and Birmingham City, joining the latter on a permanent basis in 2022.

After just one impressive campaign at St. Andrew’s, he was picked up by Luton, playing 33 games and scoring four goals as they finished 18th in the Premier League. He’s also featured for the Netherlands at every level from under-15’s to under-21’s.

His top-level experience is clear for all to see, boasting 38 Premier League appearances during his time at Manchester United and Luton. He’s also played in the Bundesliga, the Champions League and the Europa League.

Predominantly a right winger, Chong played the second half of last season on the left flank. It wouldn’t be easy to take him off Luton’s hands, but the chance to play Premier League football under his former boss would surely appeal, and he’d add good competition for Wes Burns and Nathan Broadhead after the deal for Jaden Philogene fell through.

Largie Ramazani - UD Almeria

Largie Ramazani moved to England in 2013, joining Charlton Athletic from Anderlecht. He made the switch to Manchester United in 2017, working under McKenna in the academy. His lone appearance at senior level came in a Europa League defeat to Astana in 2019, reportedly turning down a new contract offer the following June to leave for free.

Now at Almeria, the former Belgium youth international has had a consistent run of games in La Liga following his side’s promotion from the second tier in 2022. He scored his first goal for the club against Real Madrid and provided a hat-trick of assists for Luis Suarez (not that one) against Granada.

He ended last season with three goals and five assists in 29 games as Almeria were relegated, potentially opening the door for him to depart this summer. Fiorentina, Lille and Everton have all been linked in the last few months.

A lightning-fast winger, Ramazani is able to play on both flanks or up front in a two. He’s still only 23, although there may be some attitude issues to iron out. He was handed a five-match ban and a €2,400 fine for ‘his improper attitude towards the referee at the conclusion of the fixture in the changing rooms zone’ at the end of April.

Daniel James joined Leeds United in 2021 (Image: PA)

Daniel James - Leeds United

The rogue pick, and certainly the most unlikely on this list, Dan James joined Manchester United from Swansea City in 2019, working with McKenna during his stint as assistant manager. The Northern Irishman reportedly found it easier to manage him than some of the bigger names in the squad, joining Ipswich a few months after he was sold to Leeds United.

He registered four goals and four assists for them in 2021/22, joining Fulham on loan the following season as his parent club were relegated from the Premier League. He thrived in the Championship last season, bagging 13 goals and seven assists.

Of course, Daniel Farke’s men missed out on promotion, and while most would expect James to stay at Elland Road, an offer from a top-flight club could change that.

Crysencio Summerville could leave this summer, which would ease the pressure on them financially, and the recent investment from Red Bull would certainly play a part too. However, he’s a good fit for Ipswich at just 26 years old.

A Wales international, he knows Burns and Broadhead and could be a like-for-like alternative for either. He looked much more clinical in front of goal last season, which is what he struggled with previously.