Ipswich Town have made a formal move to sign Leicester City winger Kasey McAteer as Kieran McKenna looks to strengthen his wide options before the transfer window closes.
The Tractor Boys have lodged a bid for the 23-year-old, though it remains unclear whether the Foxes are prepared to accept.
Town are targeting an immediate return to the Premier League following last season’s relegation and have made a steady start to the new Championship campaign. With three draws from their opening three league fixtures, McKenna’s side have looked organised but lacked cutting edge in the final third.
A lack of attacking spark was further highlighted in the Carabao Cup defeat to Bromley on penalties, with the Ipswich boss stressing the need for reinforcements.
Leicester stance remains unclear
Leicester have already fielded interest in McAteer previously, with Sunderland seeing an offer rejected in January. At the time, City placed an £8m valuation on their academy product, and with Bilal El Khannouss attracting Premier League interest this summer, the club may be reluctant to lose two attacking midfielders without securing a replacement.
Despite being on the fringes for much of last season, McAteer forced his way into the Leicester side late in the campaign and scored his first Premier League goal in a 2–0 win over Ipswich in April.
The Foxes are believed to be open to offers, but with McAteer contracted until 2026, they hold a strong negotiating position.
Ipswich looking to replace Hutchinson
The push for McAteer comes after Ipswich lost Omari Hutchinson to Nottingham Forest for a reported £37.5m earlier in the window. While Jaden Philogene, Jack Clarke and Sammie Szmodics have all been linked, McAteer has emerged as a more realistic target.
Ipswich still have Wes Burns to return from injury, while Chiedozie Ogbene and Philogene have featured out wide, but McKenna is thought to want at least one additional natural winger.
📊 Key FotMob Stats – 2024/25 Premier League (Leicester City)
• Appearances: 18
• Goals: 1
• Assists: 0
Career total for Leicester City:
• 56 appearances
• 7 goals
Percentile rank among Premier League wingers:
• 39% – Goals scored
• 37% – Shot attempts
• 36% – Chances created
• 79% – Aerial duels won
• 87% – Defensive contributions
🟦 ZONE RUMOURED
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