Exclusive: Ipswich Town line up £14,000-a-week Birmingham star if they fail to land Patrick Bamford
Ipswich Town have lined up a move for Birmingham City striker Lyndon Dykes should they fail to lure Patrick Bamford, sources have told Football Insider.
The Championship club are in the market for a new forward this month and have offered the Sheffield United player a contract.
But Bamford is expected to accept an offer from Sheffield United to stay on for the rest of the season.
Ipswich have turned their attention to Dykes, 30, as an alternative to the former Leeds United star.
Kieran McKenna‘s side are keen on taking Dykes on loan for the rest of the season. They would need to pay his Birmingham wages, which are believed to be worth £14,000-a-week.
Lyndon Dykes is lacking opportunities at Birmingham City
It has been a tough season for Dykes so far. With just two Championship starts to his name, the veteran has fallen down the pecking order at St Andrew’s under Chris Davies.
He had five goals and one assist during the Blues’ League One title-winning campaign last term, but he has had even fewer chances to impress, only being given 420 minutes in the league.
Under McKenna, Ipswich will be hoping to win promotion back to the Premier League, and an experienced player in Dykes could certainly help them achieve that goal.
With 165 appearances for QPR, Dykes is no stranger to the Championship, and he could make the difference between automatic promotion and a play-off spot this season.
Ipswich Town aiming for promotion back to the Premier League
McKenna clearly means business, with his team just two points off second-place Middlesbrough after 25 games, also with a game in hand.
Football Insider understands that Ipswich are battling Birmingham for Ryan Doherty, Stevenage Town’s midfield sensation, but the two parties could come to an agreement over Dykes instead.
Although Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke remain in red-hot form, George Hirst has been injured since mid-December, and Chuba Akpom is not as prolific as many would have hoped.
By no means is Dykes going to be the huge fix to power the Tractor Boys to automatic promotion, but his experience in the dressing room could be vital.