Zian Flemming to Ipswich Town: Can the Dutchman Help the Tractor Boys Stay Up?
Ipswich Town are closing in on a deadline-day deal for Burnley striker Zian Flemming, with the Dutchman already in Suffolk for a medical as the two clubs work to finalise a fee reportedly worth £17m before the 11pm cut-off.
The move has come together late in the window after Ipswich's proposed loan for Tammy Abraham fell through, with Aston Villa boss Unai Emery confirming the striker had decided to stay and fight for his place.
That left Ipswich free to turn their attention to Flemming, who looks set to become one of the biggest additions to Gary O'Neil's squad this summer.
Ipswich Town are back in the Premier League under new manager Gary O'Neil after finishing runners-up in the Championship - compare our selection of the top betting sites for their fight to beat the drop, and check the latest free bets.
Burnley boss Nicky Hayen has insisted that Flemming would only leave for the right price and that a replacement would need to be found, but with the striker already in Suffolk for his medical, the deal looks increasingly close.
If completed, Flemming would become O'Neil's 14th senior signing of a summer in which Ipswich have already spent close to £190m.
It's easy to see why Town have pushed for the deal. Flemming scored 11 Premier League goals for Burnley last season despite their relegation and has already struck three times in his first two Championship appearances this term.
Ipswich Town's Premier League Survival Odds
Ipswich's return to the top flight has been a mixed bag so far, with Town sitting 12th after two games - an opening-day win followed by a heavy 5-2 defeat at Manchester United.
That result underlined the size of the challenge ahead, despite a busy summer of spending designed to give them a better chance of competing in the Premier League.
Football betting sites remain relatively bullish on Ipswich's survival chances, too.
Betfred currently price the Tractor Boys at 8/13 to stay up, while relegation is 5/4, putting Ipswich among the more fancied of the newly-promoted sides to beat the drop.
What Zian Flemming Would Add
Flemming would add another proven option to a forward line already featuring Emersonn and Chuba Akpom, giving O'Neil the chance to rotate his attacking options through a demanding Premier League campaign rather than relying on just two senior strikers.
For a side battling to stay up, that extra depth could prove valuable.
A forward with Premier League experience and a proven eye for goal would give Ipswich an attacking option who should need less time to settle, making him the kind of practical deadline-day signing that could strengthen their survival bid.
What Happens Next
The transfer window closes at 11pm tonight, and with Flemming already in Suffolk for his medical, Ipswich appear to be on track to get the deal over the line before the deadline.
The Ipswich Star report that Town are unlikely to make any further additions once the Dutchman completes his move, suggesting Flemming could be the final piece of O'Neil's deadline-day business.
