During what has rapidly descended into yet another miserable season at Portman Road, even the slightest scrap of positivity is more than welcome.
And Ipswich Town fans finally had something to smile about yesterday afternoon when news broke that Elkan Baggott won’t be heading to the Premier League. Well, not yet anyway.
Reports had suggested the teenage centre-back was about to follow the likes of Matt Clarke and Kieffer Moore out the door amid interest from Everton, Leeds United and West Ham (EADT).
But an increasingly disillusioned Ipswich fanbase can at least sleep a little easier tonight knowing one of the most talented young defenders in the Football League is here to stay.
Baggot has finally signed a new deal, committing his future to one of English football’s sleeping giants until 2023.
TWTD reports the delay wasn’t because Baggott had refused a contract extension – as had been suggested elsewhere – but because he simply wanted to weigh up his options.
Whether he’s made the right decision, however, only time will tell.
You’d think Baggott would find first-team football easier to come by in the third tier – easier than in the top flight anyway.
But it’s almost four months since he made that eye-catching debut against Gillingham in the EFL Cup. Since then, Baggott has barely come close to making a league appearance.
If manager Paul Lambert wasn’t already less than popular at Portman Road, his reluctance to give Ipswich’s home-grown talent a chance has only given his detractors more ammunition.
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