Ipswich v Liverpool Saturday 

©TM/IMAGO

When Ipswich Town were taken over by the mega-rich US investment fund ‘ORG’ via a new company ‘Gamechanger 20′ in 2021, there was suddenly a lot of hope and excitement among the Tractor Boys’ fanbase. Global superstar and lifelong Ipswich fan Ed Sheeran was even providing the new club-shirt sponsor (he’s now very recently even bought a small stake in the club). Spirits were high. After two mundane seasons in League One had followed 15 consecutive campaigns loitering in the Championship, suddenly there was a sense of optimism in the air. However, few could have foreseen that just three years later, Ipswich would be back in the Premier League for the first time since 2002 and rubbing shoulders with six-time Champions League winners Liverpool in their opening fixture.

Indeed that’s now the case. Back-to-back promotions have seen Ipswich fly up the pyramid and means they will now take on the Reds this Saturday lunchtime in new manager Arne Slot’s first competitive game in charge. Following the Suffolk club’s meteoric rise, much of the early summer was spent trying to fend off interest for manager Kieran McKenna. Both Manchester United and Chelsea reportedly showed interest but the 38 year old decided to pen a new contract and commit his future to Portman Road. The Northern Irish boss has been a pivotal part of Ipswich’s rapid surge up the leagues, but can he lead Ipswich to Premier League safety? And just how big is that task? Looking back on their recent journey may be able to answer some of those questions.

Ipswich’s remarkable rise through the leagues

As you can see in the graphic above, over the last five seasons Liverpool have always been in the top five in the Premier League and therefore the entire English football pyramid. Ipswich have been fighting different battles. They spent three of those five seasons outside the top 50 English clubs with mid-table League One finishes. What made last season’s second placed finish in the Championship and promotion at first time of asking all the more impressive is that the club barely spent a penny. Last season Ipswich spent just €5.67m on transfers – the 14th lowest in the division and less than relegated Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town. McKenna proved he can develop players and work without a huge budget.

The club did bring in six players on loan last season, as well as two free transfers, but their spending was dwarfed by the other clubs fighting at the top of the Championship. Remarkably, 14 of Ipswich’s current 25 man squad actually played for the club in League One. It makes what Ipswich and McKenna have achieved all the more special, but it does leave their squad still looking very short of being ‘Premier League ready’. This summer the club has begun to spend – four of the five most expensive transfers in Ipswich’s club history have been brought in this window. Omari Hutchinson was signed from Chelsea for €23.5m, Jacob Greaves brought in for €21.5m from Hull, Liam Delap for €17.85m from Manchester City and keeper Arijanet Muric for €9.55m from Burnley. Before this summer, the 2001 signing of Hermann Hreidarsson for €6.75m had remained the club’s record transfer.

David v Goliath – Liverpool’s squad worth 10x more than Ipswich’s

Despite the club spending €72.99m this summer, Ipswich still have by far the lowest squad market value in the Premier League at €91.2m. The next lowest figure is fellow promoted side Leicester at €201.2m. Manager McKenna recently spoke about the club’s summer transfer activity: “It’s a challenging market and I think there’s a balance to be found between getting in players who can help us as quickly as possible, but also getting in the right players who are going to help us over the course of the season and over the course of the next 10 months, not just over the next 10 days.” Indeed forward planning has been a centrepiece in Ipswich’s model since the new ownership arrived in 2021. Blackburn forward Sammie Szmodics has been heavily linked with the club, whilst Man City midfielder Kalvin Phillips looks set to come to Portman Road on loan this Friday, as well as Napoli’s Jen Cajuste.

Ultimately even with those arrivals, Ipswich will still have a gargantuan task on their hands as the sun beams down over Suffolk this Saturday lunchtime. Liverpool’s squad value currently stands at €926.3m – just short of 10x more than Ipswich’s €91.2m. Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Díaz each boast a market value of €75m. Around 82% of the value of Ipswich’s entire squad. New boss Slot will also be keen to get off to a winning start and make a statement, after not bringing in a single new first-team player to date this summer.

Last season Ipswich began the Championship season with the 17th highest squad market value from the 24 teams in the division and went on to finish 2nd. There’s every reason to believe, with elite tactician McKenna at the helm, the club can survive this term. They will be hoping for some more new faces through the door before deadline day on August 30, but the club appears to be adopting a well thought out vision for the club’s future. A future built in the Premier League.