Ipswich Town, Coventry City, and Hull City are all tasked with building squads that are capable of competing for survival in the Premier League this summer.
They were all promoted together in the Championship in the 2025/26 campaign, but they now have to bolster their sides with new signings to bridge the gap between the division.
Gary O’Neil and Frank Lampard have already managed in the top-flight for other clubs, but Tigers boss Sergej Jakirović is set to experience it for the first time.
Sunderland and Leeds United both paved the way for newly-promoted teams when they stayed up last term, and Granit Xhaka may be looked at as a prime example of the type of signing needed to make the step up.
The attributes that made Granit Xhaka the perfect signing
The Switzerland international’s experience at the top level was one of the big reasons why he was an eye-catching signing, as he had played almost 300 times for Arsenal in England previously.
However, it was his strength and defensive nous off the ball that made him such an impressive signing for the Black Cats, as it meant that they did not leak goals and fall down the division due to a lack of solidity.
Xhaka started 32 of the club’s 38 matches in the Premier League in the 2025/26 campaign and won 60% of his ground duels and 61.5% of his aerial battles, showing that opposition players rarely got the better of him on the ground or in the air.
|
25/26 Premier League |
Xhaka |
Rank vs CMs |
|---|---|---|
|
Duels won |
155 |
Top 16% |
|
Duel success rate |
60.3% |
Top 10% |
|
Aerial duels won |
56 |
Top 10% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
61.5% |
Top 19% |
|
Defensive contributions |
363 |
Top 13% |
|
Ball recoveries |
179 |
Top 13% |
The left-footed star’s presence in the middle of the park meant that Sunderland were a difficult team to play against, because he opposition players struggled to beat him in duels or get the ball past him.
Ipswich, Coventry, and Hull should all be on the lookout for players who can offer similar qualities off the ball to ensure that their defensive structure is not carved open too easily.
Ipswich and Hull battling Coventry for their own Xhaka
Now, all three of the newly-promoted clubs are eyeing up a Premier League gem who could arrive at one of their stadiums as their own version of Xhaka.
TEAMtalk reports that Ipswich Town, Coventry City, and Hull City are all vying to sign Everton central midfielder Tim Iroegbunam in the summer transfer window.
The outlet claims that all three teams have made approaches to enter talks with the Toffees over a deal for the former Aston Villa talent before the deadline.
It adds that Everton are open to offers for his signature, with a fee of £20m suggested, and that they could be open to a loan with an obligation to make it permanent next summer.
The English midfielder only started 17 of his 29 appearances in the Premier League for David Moyes’ side last term, hence why they are open to letting him go in the coming weeks.
In his limited game time on Merseyside, though, the 23-year-old gem showed that he has the potential to be a dominant defensive player for Hull, Coventry, or Ipswich.
|
25/26 Premier League |
Iroegbunam per 90 |
Rank vs CMs |
|---|---|---|
|
Duels won |
7.58 |
Top 5% |
|
Aerial duels won |
1.33 |
Top 33% |
|
Defensive contributions |
11.45 |
Top 31% |
|
Tackles |
4.12 |
Top 4% |
|
Interceptions |
1.33 |
Top 28% |
|
Blocked shots |
0.73 |
Top 8% |
He ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of defensive metrics per 90 in the Premier League, which shows that he can be an effective defensive midfielder in the top-flight.
Whilst Iroegbunam is not as experienced as Xhaka, who is ten years his senior, he is another central midfielder who has experience in the Premier League and has proven himself as a physical force in the middle of the park, like the Swiss star.
The Toffees powerhouse won 54% of his ground duels and 58% of his aerial battles in the league last term, which shows that he is also similar to Xhaka in the sense that he can win the majority of his physical tussles on the deck and in the air.
Opposition players rarely get the better of Iroegbunam in physical battles and he is adept at cutting out opposition attacks, as evidenced by the fact that he ranked in the top 5% of midfielders for tackles won per 90.
Just as Xhaka’s physicality played a key role in Sunderland’s success last season, the £20m-rated star could be exactly what Ipswich, Hull, or Coventry need in their midfield to compete in the Premier League.
That is why all three of them should be pushing as hard as they can to win the race for him in the coming weeks, as the Everton gem could be their own version of Sunderland’s move for Xhaka.
