Ipswich Town and Sunderland are vying for Bournemouth forward Kieffer Moore, who appears ready to leave the Vitality Stadium.
The 31-year-old striker, who joined the Cherries in January 2022, has made just seven appearances in the 2023/24 season, scoring one.
With his game time limited, a transfer away appears to be on the cards, with a number of Championship clubs apparently keeping an eye on the big nine.
According to The Athletic, the Tractor Boys’ loan deal for Moore was rejected by the Premier League club.
Moore is thought to be a crucial player for the Cherries, but they understand his desire to play first-team games.
Not only is Town looking for their former forward. Sunderland, led by Michael Beale, are also hoping to reach an arrangement, as the Black Cats are sorely short of strikers. However, it is abundantly evident where Moore should aim to play football for the rest of the season.
The Welshman has 47 goals in 155 Championship outings and knows where the back of the net is. He’s mobile, physical, and similar to Freddie Ladapo and Kayden Jackson, which is the type of striker Kieran McKenna prefers to work with.
Ipswich are statistically one of the better teams in the league in terms of attacking production. According to FotMob, Town had the fifth-highest anticipated goals and created 54 good opportunities.
Crucially, McKenna’s team averages 4.8 crosses per 90 minutes, which is the third highest in the Championship, and Moore might benefit from that.
Another factor to consider is Ipswich’s ability to offer Moore a way out of Bournemouth.
It is no secret that Town has financial support. The Tractor Boys would be more than capable of offering the 31-year-old a competitive salary and a chance to play in the Premier League again.
Despite a modest downturn in form, McKenna’s side are in a strong position heading into the second half of the Championship season. Even with Southampton breathing down their necks, the Suffolk team has a good chance of playing in the top division next season.
Sunderland also requires a forward, there is no disputing that.
However, with Beale still developing a new style of play and the Black Cats competing with a number of clubs for a top six berth, this could be a hazardous decision for the Welshman.
Furthermore, given Sunderland’s recruitment philosophy, a permanent transfer in the summer is doubtful. The Wearsiders prefer to sign younger players who can develop over players in their 30s who would leave the club with little to no resale value.
All roads go to Portman Road, but whether the Bournemouth striker ends up in Suffolk remains to be seen.
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