Ipswich Town are understood to be monitoring Girona midfielder Azzedine Ounahi as they assess their options.
According to reports from Spain, the Tractor Boys would need to see off interest from fellow English club Hull City and Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad to secure the 26-year-old’s signature.
Dutch heavyweights Ajax, now under the management of former Girona coach Michel, have been considered the leading contenders throughout much of the transfer window.
Ounahi launched his professional career in France, departing Marseille in 2025 to join his current club in Spain following a temporary stint at Panathinaikos.
The Moroccan international contributed five goals and two assists during his debut top-flight campaign in Spain, though Girona suffered relegation at the season’s end.
Ounahi subsequently earned a place in Morocco’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, making five starts across six appearances and netting a brace in the knockout stage defeat of Canada. After returning from international duty, he has yet to appear in any of Girona’s pre-season fixtures or their opening Segunda Division match against Leganes.
As previously reported, Ipswich continue to explore possibilities in the centre of the pitch after seeing an approach for Bayer Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacios turned down. It remains uncertain whether the club will make another move for the Bundesliga player or turn their attention to alternative targets.
Ounahi would represent a valuable acquisition for that position. Although his playing style differs from Palacios, he would bring genuine quality to the heart of midfield. The former Marseille youth product operated primarily as an attacking midfielder last term but is equally capable of playing a deeper creative role. Town appear short of that particular profile within their current squad, namely a player capable of threading passes through opposition lines and crafting opportunities for teammates further forward. With Girona’s relegation likely weakening their bargaining position, it seems probable that several clubs will attempt to capitalise on what could emerge as an attractive deal.