Gary O’Neil draws a line in the sand — his two wingers are staying put, whatever the rumour mill says
Ipswich Town have sent a clear message to any club sniffing around their wide players: Jack Clarke and Kasey McAteer are not for sale.
Despite swirling transfer talk linking both wingers with exits before the window shuts, the EADT and Ipswich Star understand neither man is available — full stop. Gary O’Neil sees both as central to his plans, and the club has no intention of letting either leave Portman Road this summer.
The Rumours That Sparked the Speculation
The chatter started after respected transfer reporter Alan Nixon linked Clarke with interest from Middlesbrough, a story fuelled by the winger’s dramatic late winner against Sunderland in Ipswich’s Premier League opener last weekend. Timing a rumour right after a match-winning moment is nothing new in the transfer game — but Ipswich are shutting it down fast.
Then came claims from journalist Darren Witcoop suggesting the Blues were “ready to sanction an exit” for McAteer. Again, the message from inside the club has been unambiguous: that’s not happening.
Why Ipswich Won’t Budge
Both players remain crucial pieces of O’Neil’s squad puzzle heading into a pivotal season.
Jack Clarke, a £15 million signing from Sunderland two years ago, was the club’s top scorer during their Championship promotion campaign. He’s now fighting for his place on the left flank against stiff competition from Jaden Philogene and Daizen Maeda — proof the club values depth and competition over cashing in.
Kasey McAteer endured a slow start following his £11.5 million move from Leicester last summer but finished the campaign strongly. With Wes Burns departing for Leicester and Sindre Walle Egeli shifting into a No.10 role, McAteer now stands as the primary competition for Abdul Fatawu on the right wing — making him more important to the squad than ever, not less.
The Bigger Picture: A Busy Window at Portman Road
This news lands amid a whirlwind of transfer activity at Ipswich. The club are edging closer to a €22.5 million plus €5 million deal for Argentina international midfielder Exequiel Palacios from Bayer Leverkusen, while talks continue over an experienced loan striker, Tammy Abraham, from Aston Villa.
It’s not all incoming, though. Chiedozie Ogbene looks set to depart, with Stoke City among the clubs interested in a loan deal, while winger Anis Mehmeti is drawing interest from Championship sides, including Wrexham.
The Bottom Line
While Ipswich are actively reshaping parts of their squad before deadline day, Clarke and McAteer are firmly off the table. With the window closing at 11pm next Tuesday, all eyes will now turn to whether the Palacios and Abraham deals can be wrapped up in time — and how much further business the Blues have planned before the deadline hits.
