LEWIS COOK
Of all the players OâNeil has worked with, Lewis Cook is probably top of my list of targets when considering quality, experience and how realistic they would be. He has been linked with Ipswich recently, and a summer move would make a lot of sense.
The midfielder has spent the last decade at Bournemouth, having joined from Leeds in 2016. Heâs made 190 Premier League appearances, scoring once and registering 13 assists in that time.
The 29-year-old, who has one England cap to his name, is a Rolls Royce midfielder. He was instrumental in OâNeilâs Bournemouth team, with his work rate and discipline proving vital. Heâd be a strong addition at Portman Road, and he could be available now that his current club are in Europe.
DAVID BROOKS
Right winger David Brooks didnât play a big role in OâNeilâs Bournemouth side. He was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma in October 2021, returning to action in March 2023 after 536 days.
OâNeil called his return as âhuge for everybodyâ at the club. While Brooks only played 11 games under OâNeil, I do wonder if they have a strong working relationship from that period. If so, maybe they could link-up once again, which would see Ipswich bring in a talented left-footer who likes drifting inside to create and score.
Like Cook, Bournemouthâs Europa League qualification could see Brooks move this summer. Heâs impressed in the Premier League and could thrive playing regular minutes for the Blues. If one Welsh winger moves on in the form of Wes Burns, maybe another could come in? Town could do with a signing in that position.
JORDAN ZEMURA
Jordan Zemura might not be the most glamorous name on the list, but I think heâd be a really sensible signing for Ipswich, who need cover for Leif Davis at left-back.
The 22-cap Zimbabwe international was a regular for Bournemouth in the Championship, then made 19 Premier League appearances before making the move to Serie A to join Udinese. His aggressive runs and impressive pace have caught the eye.
Zemura, now 26, has been given good minutes in Italy, playing as both a left-back in a back four and a swashbuckling wing-back in a back five. If heâd be open to returning to England, and Udinese would consider a sale, I certainly wouldnât be against this one. His attack-first approach does make him similar to Davis, however, and maybe Ipswich need a different profile.
MAX KILMAN
Right, hear me out. Yes, I know Max Kilman has had a pretty torrid time at West Ham since leaving Wolves, but that doesnât mean that his career canât be recovered.
The centre-back was crucial during OâNeilâs time at Molineux. He played every minute of every Premier League game for Wolves in 2023/24, captaining them until his ÂŁ40m move to the London Stadium. Nuno Espirito Santo clearly doesnât fancy keeping him around in the capital, so a move is likely.
Kilman was full of praise for OâNeil when they worked together in the West Midlands. Perhaps by reuniting, weâll see the 29-year-old return to his best as a slick left-sided centre-back who can handle himself under pressure from top-level attackers. Heâd be good competition for Jacob Greaves and would be another leader in the dressing room.
TOTI GOMES
While there may be questions over Kilmanâs physicality and aggression, the same canât be said for Toti Gomes, who has played for Wolves since 2020, making more than 100 Premier League appearances before last seasonâs relegation.
The 27-year-old thoroughly enjoyed playing under OâNeil, highlighting how comfortable he felt in his role at Molineux in 2023/24. At the same time, OâNeil has praised Gomes on numerous occasions. If the Portugal international wants an immediate return to the top flight, that relationship could surely be rekindled.
An athletic left-footed centre-back, I think Gomes would slot in well next to Dara OâShea, and he can also cover left-back when needed, just like Greaves.
ANDREW OMOBAMIDELE
I appreciate this is another controversial one, as Andrew Omobamidele came through the ranks at Norwich and played 55 games for them, but thereâs no denying that heâs a good player. Crucially, heâs shown a significant improvement playing under OâNeil at Strasbourg.
The centre-back had a tough time at Nottingham Forest before making the move to France last year. Then, under OâNeil, weâve seen him develop into a really solid defender at a high level, showcasing his athleticism, physicality and pace.
A natural right-sider, the 23-year-old is unlikely to displace OâShea or be happy to play a supporting role, so a shift to a back five would likely be necessary for this one to happen. But if Omobamidele wants to continue working under OâNeil and return to the Premier League, this might appeal to all parties.
Heâd also join the ever-growing group of Irish Ipswich players.
MARTIAL GODO
Martial Godo was playing non-league football with Margate â on a dual registration with Dartford â as recently as 2022. He was in League One, on loan at Wigan from Fulham, as recently as 2024. Last season, he notched 10 goals and one assist for Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
The 23-year-old is a real talent. A former England youth international who now represents the Ivory Coast, heâs a strong dribbler who wants to isolate defenders, with his turn of pace proving useful in bursting into the box. In a counterattacking side â which Town could certainly be under OâNeil â heâd be a useful asset.
Godo and OâNeil have formed a bond over in Ligue 1, with limited English speakers at the club. The left wingerâs height â 5â7 â is a bit of a concern for Premier League football, however, and any move to Portman Road would surely hinge on Jaden Philogene or Jack Clarke leaving.
SEBASTIAN NANASI
Finishing with an ambitious option, Sebastian Nanasi has been a star for Strasbourg since joining from Malmo in 2024. Last season, he bagged 10 goals and five assists for them in all competitions, playing an important part in their run to the Conference League semi-finals.
An exciting no.10 who can also play an inside left role, he thrives as a creator who drops deep to combine with the midfielders behind him. When heâs around the box, he hits the ball incredibly well and has a knack for finding gaps to set up team-mates.
With much of Townâs creativity stemming from Marcelino Nunez and Leif Davis, someone of Nanasiâs profile would be high on my list for summer recruitment. At 24, heâs still got a high ceiling and plenty of room to develop.
Of all the players OâNeil has worked with, Lewis Cook is probably top of my list of targets when considering quality, experience and how realistic they would be. He has been linked with Ipswich recently, and a summer move would make a lot of sense.
The midfielder has spent the last decade at Bournemouth, having joined from Leeds in 2016. Heâs made 190 Premier League appearances, scoring once and registering 13 assists in that time.
The 29-year-old, who has one England cap to his name, is a Rolls Royce midfielder. He was instrumental in OâNeilâs Bournemouth team, with his work rate and discipline proving vital. Heâd be a strong addition at Portman Road, and he could be available now that his current club are in Europe.
DAVID BROOKS
Right winger David Brooks didnât play a big role in OâNeilâs Bournemouth side. He was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma in October 2021, returning to action in March 2023 after 536 days.
OâNeil called his return as âhuge for everybodyâ at the club. While Brooks only played 11 games under OâNeil, I do wonder if they have a strong working relationship from that period. If so, maybe they could link-up once again, which would see Ipswich bring in a talented left-footer who likes drifting inside to create and score.
Like Cook, Bournemouthâs Europa League qualification could see Brooks move this summer. Heâs impressed in the Premier League and could thrive playing regular minutes for the Blues. If one Welsh winger moves on in the form of Wes Burns, maybe another could come in? Town could do with a signing in that position.
JORDAN ZEMURA
Jordan Zemura might not be the most glamorous name on the list, but I think heâd be a really sensible signing for Ipswich, who need cover for Leif Davis at left-back.
The 22-cap Zimbabwe international was a regular for Bournemouth in the Championship, then made 19 Premier League appearances before making the move to Serie A to join Udinese. His aggressive runs and impressive pace have caught the eye.
Zemura, now 26, has been given good minutes in Italy, playing as both a left-back in a back four and a swashbuckling wing-back in a back five. If heâd be open to returning to England, and Udinese would consider a sale, I certainly wouldnât be against this one. His attack-first approach does make him similar to Davis, however, and maybe Ipswich need a different profile.
MAX KILMAN
Right, hear me out. Yes, I know Max Kilman has had a pretty torrid time at West Ham since leaving Wolves, but that doesnât mean that his career canât be recovered.
The centre-back was crucial during OâNeilâs time at Molineux. He played every minute of every Premier League game for Wolves in 2023/24, captaining them until his ÂŁ40m move to the London Stadium. Nuno Espirito Santo clearly doesnât fancy keeping him around in the capital, so a move is likely.
Kilman was full of praise for OâNeil when they worked together in the West Midlands. Perhaps by reuniting, weâll see the 29-year-old return to his best as a slick left-sided centre-back who can handle himself under pressure from top-level attackers. Heâd be good competition for Jacob Greaves and would be another leader in the dressing room.
TOTI GOMES
While there may be questions over Kilmanâs physicality and aggression, the same canât be said for Toti Gomes, who has played for Wolves since 2020, making more than 100 Premier League appearances before last seasonâs relegation.
The 27-year-old thoroughly enjoyed playing under OâNeil, highlighting how comfortable he felt in his role at Molineux in 2023/24. At the same time, OâNeil has praised Gomes on numerous occasions. If the Portugal international wants an immediate return to the top flight, that relationship could surely be rekindled.
An athletic left-footed centre-back, I think Gomes would slot in well next to Dara OâShea, and he can also cover left-back when needed, just like Greaves.
ANDREW OMOBAMIDELE
I appreciate this is another controversial one, as Andrew Omobamidele came through the ranks at Norwich and played 55 games for them, but thereâs no denying that heâs a good player. Crucially, heâs shown a significant improvement playing under OâNeil at Strasbourg.
The centre-back had a tough time at Nottingham Forest before making the move to France last year. Then, under OâNeil, weâve seen him develop into a really solid defender at a high level, showcasing his athleticism, physicality and pace.
A natural right-sider, the 23-year-old is unlikely to displace OâShea or be happy to play a supporting role, so a shift to a back five would likely be necessary for this one to happen. But if Omobamidele wants to continue working under OâNeil and return to the Premier League, this might appeal to all parties.
Heâd also join the ever-growing group of Irish Ipswich players.
MARTIAL GODO
Martial Godo was playing non-league football with Margate â on a dual registration with Dartford â as recently as 2022. He was in League One, on loan at Wigan from Fulham, as recently as 2024. Last season, he notched 10 goals and one assist for Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
The 23-year-old is a real talent. A former England youth international who now represents the Ivory Coast, heâs a strong dribbler who wants to isolate defenders, with his turn of pace proving useful in bursting into the box. In a counterattacking side â which Town could certainly be under OâNeil â heâd be a useful asset.
Godo and OâNeil have formed a bond over in Ligue 1, with limited English speakers at the club. The left wingerâs height â 5â7 â is a bit of a concern for Premier League football, however, and any move to Portman Road would surely hinge on Jaden Philogene or Jack Clarke leaving.
SEBASTIAN NANASI
Finishing with an ambitious option, Sebastian Nanasi has been a star for Strasbourg since joining from Malmo in 2024. Last season, he bagged 10 goals and five assists for them in all competitions, playing an important part in their run to the Conference League semi-finals.
An exciting no.10 who can also play an inside left role, he thrives as a creator who drops deep to combine with the midfielders behind him. When heâs around the box, he hits the ball incredibly well and has a knack for finding gaps to set up team-mates.
With much of Townâs creativity stemming from Marcelino Nunez and Leif Davis, someone of Nanasiâs profile would be high on my list for summer recruitment. At 24, heâs still got a high ceiling and plenty of room to develop.
