Ipswich Town officially confirmed the signing of central midfielder Sasa Lukic on a permanent deal to bolster Gary O’Neil’s options in the middle of the park on Saturday.
The Serbia international has signed a four-year contract at Portman Road and arrived through the door for a fee of £9m from Premier League rivals Fulham.
He did not sign in time to feature in the club’s latest friendly against Rayo Vallecano at Portman Road on Saturday, though, as he watched on from the sidelines.
Two goals from Leif Davis and a strike from summer signing Emersonn secured the win for the Tractor Boys as they continue to prepare for the Premier League season.
How Sasa Lukic represents a clear strategy from Ipswich
The signing of Lukic from Fulham is further evidence of a clear strategy from O’Neil and Ipswich in the summer transfer window, because he is yet another addition who has experience in the Premier League.
He is the fourth signing of the summer who arrives in Suffolk with Premier League experience already under his belt, as Abdul Fatawu, Issa Diop, and Florentino Luis have also been brought in.
The 29-year-old midfielder made 92 appearances in the top-flight during his three-and-a-half seasons with Fulham, which means that the club have brought in a player who knows exactly what is needed to perform at that level.
|
25/26 Premier League |
Sasa Lukic |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
26 |
|
Goals |
1 |
|
Assists |
2 |
|
Pass accuracy |
86% |
|
Tackles per game |
1.9 |
|
Interceptions per game |
0.7 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
52% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
40% |
Lukic is not outstanding defensively or offensively, on the evidence of last season’s performances for the Cottagers, but he is a solid performer who looks capable of doing a job in the middle of the park.
The Serbian star may not be the last player to arrive from another Premier League team, though, as it is clear that the club are pushing to add experience to their ranks.
Ipswich make offer to seal better signing than Sasa Lukic
In fact, the club are already in the process of attempting to bring in another top-flight star, and he would be an even better signing than Lukic for O’Neil’s side.
On Sunday, it was confirmed that Ipswich had launched a bid to sign Exequiel Palacios from Bayer Leverkusen but he’s not the only potential incoming. Indeed, according to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, Ipswich Town are battling Hull City and West Ham United for the signing of Sunderland centre-forward Wilson Isidor.
The reporter claims that the Tractor Boys have submitted an offer in the region of £14m for the striker in an attempt to beat their rivals to his signature.
Nixon adds that Hull have offered £12m for the Haiti international and that the Hammers are also prepared to make a bid, but the player is not in any rush to leave the Stadium of Light yet.
Ipswich must, now, press ahead in negotiations to sign the forward and convince the Black Cats to accept an offer for him, before convincing the player to make the move to Portman Road.
Isidor was unfortunate last season because he ended up behind Brian Brobbey, who was a revelation for Sunderland, in the pecking order for the number nine shirt at the Stadium of Light.
|
25/26 Premier League |
Wilson Isidor |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
32 |
|
Starts |
11 |
|
xGA |
4.75 |
|
Goals |
6 |
|
Minutes per goal |
196 |
|
Big chances missed |
2 |
|
Conversion rate |
14% |
The 25-year-old marksman, however, took his opportunities when they came in the top-flight, scoring an eye-catching six goals in 11 starts for Regis Le Bris’ side.
Isidor proved that he has the quality to score goals in the Premier League with his impressive return in limited minutes for Sunderland, and proved himself to be a clinical finisher by outperforming his xG.
He would be an even better signing than Lukic because of his potential to be a real difference-maker in the final third by scoring goals that could win vital points and help to keep Ipswich in the division.
Whilst the Serbian star could be a reliable and solid performer in the middle of the park, as an experienced option for O’Neil, Isidor can be a game-changer who turns matches around with a moment of quality in front of goal.
Emersonn scored six goals from 7.37 xG in 18 starts in Ligue 1 last season before his summer move to Ipswich, which suggests that the Sunderland star could also be an upgrade on him for the Tractor Boys, given his return of six goals from 4.75 xG in 11 starts.
He is a proven Premier League player who would arrive at Portman Road to hit the ground running as a fantastic, potentially survival-clinching, signing, which is why the club must push to beat Hull and West Ham to his signature in the coming weeks.
