Ipswich Town wide attacker Jaden Philogene appears set to remain at Portman Road, transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has indicated, following speculation that he would depart this summer.
Romano first disclosed the 24-year-old’s wish to leave Suffolk, with reports suggesting clubs such as Bologna, Roma and Benfica were monitoring the situation.
The Tractor Boys did not receive any concrete bid for Philogene, however, and head coach Gary O’Neil maintained that no transfer request was ever submitted. His failure to feature during pre-season training was attributed to a hamstring problem.
The ex-Aston Villa player made his comeback when Ipswich defeated Union Berlin 4-2 in a pre-season fixture, with Romano now suggesting he is expected to alter his position after discussing his future with O’Neil.
Regarding stories of a transfer request, the Ipswich manager stated last month that nothing of the sort had been communicated to him. He explained that he had conversed with Philogene approximately 25 times since taking charge, with no reference to any desire to leave. The manager suggested the reports were likely speculation.
He described Philogene as an excellent prospect with a promising career ahead. O’Neil indicated he had told the player he would endeavour to place him in the optimal situation and would dedicate considerable effort over the coming weeks to ensure he was prepared to deliver in the top flight.
The manager acknowledged that football moves rapidly and circumstances can shift, but that remained the current plan. He expressed his intention to retain as many quality players as possible and promised to provide updates should anything change. As far as he was aware, Philogene would be working hard to help the club maintain its Premier League status.