Exclusive: Ipswich Town and Stoke City in January race to sign Antonios Papadopoulos
Championship sides Ipswich Town and Stoke City are both keeping tabs on Lugano centre-back Antonios Papadopoulos ahead of January, sources have told Football Insider.
Papadopoulos has been a regular starter in league and European games for Lugano since joining in June of last year from Borussia Dortmund.
He struggled to break into Dortmund’s first-team during his time at the club, with eight senior appearances between 2021 and 2024.
The versatile 26-year-old has scored two goals in 17 appearances so far this term for Lugano, and could be on his way to English football in the new year as a result of his strong form.
Ipswich and Stoke tracking Antonios Papadopoulos ahead of January window
Papadopoulos has played in all three European club competitions, with two Champions League outings during his time at Dortmund and appearances in both the Europa and Conference League with Lugano.
He is a centre-back by trade but can also feature in defensive midfield, with his versatility bound to be a reason why both Ipswich and Stoke are keeping tabs on his services.
Ipswich were relegated from the Premier League last season and are currently ninth in the Championship after an inconsistent start to this campaign.
Stoke, meanwhile, have exceeded expectations so far in 2025-26, with Mark Robins guiding his side to fourth place in the second-tier as it stands.
Papadopoulos would be joining a club pushing for promotion with a move to either the Tractor Boys or the Potters, and a January switch may be on the cards just before the Swiss Super League campaign ends.
Frank Lampard set to stay at Coventry after exit blocked
Elsewhere in the Championship, Coventry City have set the pace at the top of the table with a 10 point gap to second-placed Middlesbrough right now as they seek a long-awaited Premier League return.
Frank Lampard has earned huge plaudits for the way he has built on ex-Sky Blues boss Robins’ success, and his impressive job has alerted Premier League clubs to potentially appointing him soon.
Football Insider have revealed that Coventry chiefs wouldn’t consider letting Lampard leave this season and they are set to block any top-flight approaches that may happen.
Sources have told Football Insider that the Chelsea legend is already “on the radar” of several Premier League clubs, yet Sky Blues fans can seemingly relax and enjoy their promotion push with him in charge for the rest of the campaign.