Ipswich Town travel to Nottingham Forest on the Championship’s final day – and Mark Warburton may be keeping a close eye on Jordan Spence.
After a distressing start to the season, 2016/17 could hardly be ending in a more positive manner for Jordan Spence.
The former England youth captain was rejected by both Birmingham City and Rotherham United after trial periods before Ipswich Town handed him a lifeline in January – some eight months after his most recent competitive outing for MK Dons.
Yet, after an excellent half-season with The Tractor Boys, HITC sources told us that manager Mick McCarthy has made it clear that he would jump at the chance to extend Spence’s short-term deal beyond the summer.
However, the 26-year-old’s impressive performances have also piqued the interest of Nottingham Forest – just a week before Ipswich travel to the City Ground on the final day of the Championship campaign in a make-or-break clash to determine whether Mark Warburton’s relegation-threatened side play in the second or third tier next season.
With Forest holding the second worst defensive record in the Championship this season, their 72 goals against bettered only by Rotherham United’s 97, a move for Spence certainly makes sense.
The former West Ham youngster has played all across the backline at Ipswich, moving from his favoured right-back position to fill in at centre-half and even wing-back on occasion. And McCarthy’s side have only conceded more than one goal in a game on five occasions since Spence arrived.
Furthermore, with doubts surrounding the future of Forest right-backs Erik Lichaj and Benfica loanee Hildeberto Pereira (below), signing Spence on a free could be the perfect solution.
Though, if his Ipswich side relegate Forest this weekend, he could hardly be forgiven for deciding to remain at Portman Road.
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