“It is difficult” – Pundit reacts as Stoke City plot Ipswich Town transfer move

When Leicester City chose to recall their striker from his loan stint at the bet365 Stadium earlier this month, leaving the Potters without a single player, a move to Sheffield United became increasingly possible.In the remaining days of the transfer window, new manager Mark Robins will have to find a fresh threat up top as rumours of Bristol City striker Fally Mayulu, Liverpool’s Jayden Danns, and Town’s Al-Hamadi surfaced. Palmer thinks the latter may be the solution if given the opportunity to excel in the second division, but he has only played 125 minutes for the Tractor Boys in the top flight this season and may be moving away from Portman Road.

Stoke City is considering a deal with Ali Al-Hamadi.

The East Anglian Daily Times claims that City is interested in signing Al-Hamadi to a permanent or loan agreement as they search for a replacement for the late Cannon.The Foxes striker’s 11 goals in 25 appearances across all competitions demonstrated just how dangerous he can be in the final third, so the Staffordshire team’s decision to get him on loan back in the summer was somewhat of a coup.

The focus now shifts to Al-Hamadi, who only moved up to the second division this time last year after joining Ipswich from AFC Wimbledon, as the attacker is expected to soon be lining up for promotion-chasing Sheffield United. Before departing the Dons, the Iraqi international scored 23 goals in 42 league games. He then added four more goals for Town as they advanced from the second division, although he had to settle for a bit-part position in addition to Kieran McKenna’s abundance of attacking alternatives.

Palmer thinks it will be difficult to overcome Cannon’s departure, but even if four goals from 14 Championship outings doesn’t exactly blow the world away, the 22-year-old’s return works out better than a goal per game given that he only played 281 minutes of football during that period. It is challenging to replace someone like Tom Cannon, who has demonstrated himself at the Championship level and as a goal scorer, whereas someone like Al-Hamadi has primarily played in League One and League Two, according to the former Sheffield Wednesday player.

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk