Ipswich Town Championship Odds: Title beckons for McKenna’s men

So we’ve made it to my final Championship club preview, and spoiler - we have saved the best until last. Unlike Southampton and Leicester City, Ipswich Town come down having retained their manager in Kieran McKenna, and the talented boss should make mincemeat of this division. 

He’s got a superb squad and it comes as no surprise that we are backing Ipswich Town to win the Championship title at a canter. Below you can find the Ipswich Town Championship Odds as well as a season preview. 

Ipswich’s rapid rise was always going to mean life in the Premier League was tough, and they only amassed 22 points and four wins in the top flight. In truth, the squad they had wasn’t built for the Premier League, with several starters remaining from their League 1 winning team, but now they are back in the Championship we can expect them to flourish.

The last time they were at this level they bagged a ridiculous 96 points, only just missing out on the title to Leicester City. You could quite confidently argue that their squad now, after a season of Premier League money, is even stronger than that one, while they have a manager they trust at the helm. 

I’m really excited by this Ipswich squad, so let’s get stuck into their summer signings.

Championship Odds

Transfer business

In: Azor Matusiwa (£10m), Jens Cajuste (loan), Ashley Young, David Button (both free), Cedric Kipre (loan).

Out: Liam Delap (£30m), Axel Tuanzebe, Cameron Burgess, Marcus Harness, Massimo Luongo (all free), Sam Morsy (undisclosed). 

It’s been an interesting summer in terms of transfers at Ipswich, with perhaps the main news being that Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney has rejected a move to Portman Road. Ipswich have now signed Jens Cajuste on another loan deal, while Chuba Akpom looks set to join having won the Golden Boot for Middlesbrough in 2022/23. 

The departure of Liam Delap was expected as soon as relegation was confirmed while a few massive players in the form of Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo have also departed. Morsy was club captain but leaves having got a big offer from Kuwait while Luongo departs for Millwall after two cracking years at Portman Road. 

Although their quality can be replaced on the pitch, I have a slight concern about the gap their absences will leave in the dressing room. Such influential figures under McKenna, the manager will have to be careful that the incomings are also the right fit. I guess that is why Ashley Young’s arrival makes sense, while Cedric Kipre has also had experience at this level with West Brom. 

Ipswich have rejected a £35m bid for Omari Hutchinson already, as they looked to cling onto their star, while Nathan Broadhead could join Wrexham, but their squad depth should see them win most games this term even if both leave. 

Not too much needs to change in Suffolk for them to be successful, with the attacking quartet of George Hirst, Jack Clarke, Sammie Szmodics and Hutchinson a frightening prospect, with Conor Chaplin, Chiedozie Ogbene and Jaden Philogene all pushing to make an impact in the attacking third. Frightening. 

Key Player: Jack Clarke

There’s so many names I could have picked from here, but I will go with Clarke, basically because he’s my favourite Ipswich player to watch. After a difficult season in the Premier League, where he made 20 appearances, I think we will see the winger back to his best in the second tier. 

It’s not long since he was tearing up this division for Sunderland, and his form meant Ipswich spent £15m on his signature last summer. He’s got a lot of competition, but in 2023/24 he got 15 goals and four assists from the left for the Black Cats, and I think he can post similar numbers this season.

His dribbling ability is second-to-none and given Hirst may not lead the scoring charts but instead bring others into play, I think Clarke and the others behind him could bag plenty. I’m really excited to have him back in the second tier.

Prediction: 1st

I know it’s boring backing the favourites to win the league, but they just look so good on paper. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a relegated team come down the vast array of quality attacking options and although they could do with another couple of midfielders, clearly the intent is there to spend big. 

McKenna has proven himself to be an elite manager at this level once before, while there are still question marks around Marti Cifuentes at Leicester, Will Still at Southampton and even Ruben Selles at Sheffield United. 

Football Odds

With five of the last six Championship winners coming from relegated teams, it really does feel as though barring a major shock, one of Leicester, Ipswich or Southampton will win the league. The Foxes are due a deduction of up to 12 points which surely rules them out given the title winners have posted 100 and 97 points over the last two campaigns. 

Southampton look really strong but they only got 12 points last season and there’s the unknown quantity of Still at the helm to factor in as well. If Sheffield United or Coventry or Birmingham can get close to the 90+ points needed to win the league all power to them, but I just can’t see anybody getting near Ipswich Town. 

Jacob Greaves and Dara O’Shea are elite centre-backs, while Luke Woolfenden would walk into most defences in this league. Leif Davies was a monster the last time he played Championship football while Alex Palmer was a standout keeper at West Brom. Midfield replacements are needed, while potentially another number nine could come in to help Hirst, but aside from that, this is a bulletproof squad. I’m incredibly bullish on Ipswich to win the Championship this season. 

Today's Football Fixtures

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.