Alvaro Morata in shock Ipswich Town boost as Kieran McKenna one step closer to striker signing

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The name of former Real Madrid, Juventus and Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata is not one Ipswich Town fans expected to see next to their club in the gossip columns heading into the final day of the window.

But make no mistake, while Ipswich are aiming high in pursuit of a new centre-forward – former Championship Golden Boot winner Chuba Akpom could join from Ajax – a centre-forward with 37 goals for the Spanish national team will not be touching down at Portman Road anytime soon.

Alvaro Morata, though, could be one of the final dominoes to fall in Ipswich Town’s move for his baby-faced compatriot.

Fabrizio Romano reported late last week that Ipswich were hijacking Valencia’s deal for Ivan Azon.

A Spain Under-21 international ten years younger than the aforementioned Alvaro Morata, Ivan Azon is currently under contract at ambitious Serie A outfit Como.

Valencia had been hoping to bring the Real Zaragoza academy graduate back home, but Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys are digging their spades into the Mestalla field in an attempt to lure Ivan Azon towards the pristine Portman Road pitch instead.

Alvaro Morata could help Ipswich Town sign Como striker Ivan Azon

Ivan Azon, still only 22 years old, joined Como from Real Zaragoza during the winter window.

A striker who scored seven goals in 15 starts during the first half of 2024/25 did not play a single minute of Serie A football since changing hands, however.

Now, with Como hoping to make AC Milan misfit Morata the latest high-profile addition to Cesc Fabregas’ squad, Ivan Azon is likely to fall even further down the pecking order.

Clearly, a loan deal would benefit a youngster for whom first-team minutes will be sparse to say the least during the 2025/26 campaign.

Spanish publication Super Deporte insist that Valencia have not given up just yet, however. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Valencia remain in discussions with Como. The report adds that Azon is leaning towards the two-time Champions League finalists as well, though the cash-strapped sleeping giants of Spanish football may struggle to keep up with the deeper pockets of Ipswich Town.

EFL Analysis have been informed that Ipswich stand to make around £90 million over the next two seasons via parachute payments following their relegation from the Premier League.

Ipswich close in on Chuba Akpom but miss out on Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney

Whether Ipswich plan to sign both Ivan Azon and Chuba Akpom, though, remains to be seen.

Sky Sports claim that former Middlesbrough talisman Akpom will have a medical in East Anglia ahead of Friday’s Championship curtain-raiser away to Birmingham City.

Interestingly, Birmingham had hoped to sign Akpom too.

Should he join in time to make his debut later this week, then, that high-profile clash at St Andrews will be gifted another intriguing plot-point.

Ipswich are set to bring Jens Cajuste back to England from Serie A champions Napoli, meanwhile. McKenna’s pre-season title favourites have agreed an £8.2 million loan-to-buy deal for the Sweden international midfielder after hitting the buffers in their pursuit of Middlesbrough playmaker Hayden Hackney.

“Of course I’m pleased,” Boro coach Rob Edwards said after talks between Hackney and the Tractor Boys broke down.

“He’s our player and we’re delighted to have him here. He’s a top player to work with, his attitude is always fantastic.

“I’m really delighted to have got him back on the pitch, and I thought he showed some really good control in certain moments as well. I don’t want to go into too much detail on it at the moment, I’m just really pleased he’s here and he’s with us.”

EFL Analysis can confirm, however, that Middlesbrough may still look to sell Hackney in order to ease their financial concerns.