A transfer could soon happen for Leif Davis, as Don Goodman has predicted. This is happening ahead of the summer transfer season.
Before the transfer window reopens at the end of the current campaign, talkSPORT reports that West Ham and Newcastle United are keeping an eye on the 24-year-old full-back. Ipswich fan site TWTD also reports that Nottingham Forest is interested in the player.
With 33 appearances in the league from 36 games thus far this season, the defender has been a vital member of the Tractor Boys (all data courtesy of Fbref).
He stands out as one of the best players in the division and has helped the side push for promotion with one goal and fourteen assists. This week, against Bristol City, he shone with a goal and two assists in a 3-2 victory.
Although he has an option to extend it by one additional year, Davis’ contract is set to expire in the summer of 2025.
Issues with Don Goodman Decision on Leif Davis’ transfer amid interest from West Ham and Newcastle United
Don Goodman, a former Football League striker who is now a Sky Sports pundit, thinks that Davis’s attention may be drawn by West Ham and Newcastle.
Even if Ipswich makes it into the Premier League this season, he asserts that the former Leeds player will find it alluring to go to a better team.
Goodman told Football League World, “Well, I think it would [turn Davis’ head], it has to be [distracting] with respect to Ipswich.”
“They’re a big club in the Championship, Ipswich Town, but right now, if they got promoted into the Premier League, they wouldn’t be one of the big clubs in the Premier League.
“As a player, you aspire to play at the highest level you can and obviously that’s the Premier League, it doesn’t really get much bigger, certainly for British players.
“If big clubs come in for him, Ipswich are going to find it hard to keep him.
“He’s had a brilliant last couple of seasons.
“Last season in League One, three goals, 14 assists, and then the question was – can you take that fall and look into the Championship to that higher level? And the answer is absolutely yes.
“This season now one goal, 14 assists already, so he’s matched at the higher level, the same amount of assists, and when you’ve got that kind of delivery that he’s got it’s a weapon, he’s an assist machine.”
Despite Ipswich’s promising future, Goodman has pointed out one area in which Davis needs to do better in order to be ready for life in the top division.
Goodman continued, “My only concern with his overall skill as a player would be defence.”
“I believe that he has occasionally been caught demanding one on one.
“He’s fantastic going forward, but defending in the Premier League will only grow harder for him at this level.
Furthermore, I believe that being a decent full-back who can attack as a full-back these days is more crucial than anything else for a head coach.
“That is a string to the bow because I believe attacking to be just as important as defending, if not more so.”
“But yeah, he’s a really good player, and Ipswich will obviously struggle to hold onto him.”
Davis’ future is key for Ipswich
Whether or not Ipswich gets promoted, Davis’s future will play a significant role in their summer operations.
Given that Davis has a one-year optional contract that effectively extends his stay until the summer of 2026, Ipswich is in a strong position with regard to his future.
However, it might need this season’s promotion to persuade the 24-year-old to stay at Portman Road and sign a longer term, which would be fantastic for the team.
Although Davis was a childhood Magpies supporter, West Ham and Newcastle could be able to offer him European football the following season. Given that Eddie Howe’s team acquired Valentino Livramento from a Championship team last summer, there’s a good chance they will do the same with Davis.
