Popular forward ‘set for summer departure from promoted Tractor Boys’
Joe Pigott will leave Ipswich this summer, according to reports.
The striker returned to Portman Road this week after his loan stay at Pompey came to a close.
But according to The Mirror’s Darren Witcoop, the 29-year-old will be allowed to sign for another club on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window.
Pigott’s final appearance for John Mousinho’s side saw him set up Paddy Lane for his second-half equaliser in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Wycombe at Fratton Park.
It was a happy ending to his season-long loan stay with the Blues, for whom he scored four goals and recorded three assists in 35 League One outings.
Yet he started just nine times for Pompey under previous head coach Danny Cowley and Mousinho, with top scorer Colby Bishop the preferred option leading the line.
Now, as he returns to the Tractor Boys, it appears Kieran McKenna has already made a decision on the striker’s future.
With Pigott entering the final 12 months of his current deal, the Ipswich boss looks to be open to offloading the ex-AFC Wimbledon man as he primes his squad for Championship football.
With his situation at Portman Road previously unknown, Mousinho revealed he would be open to bringing the forward back to Fratton Park next term.
Speaking in March, the Blues’ head coach told The News: ‘I don’t know what his situation is at Ipswich but everything Joe has done so far wouldn’t put me off having him back.
‘I’ve been really impressed with Joe in terms of what he does on the pitch but I’m more impressed with Joe in terms of what he does off the pitch and in training.
‘He’s kept his head down, he’s trained hard, he’s been brilliant around the place, he’s a lively character.’
However, it remains to be seen whether the Blues will make a swoop for Pigott, who started in just four of his 18 appearances under Mousinho.
Pigott scored seven times in44appearancesforPompey across all competitions.
Ipswich, of course, won promotion as League One runners-up, with former Blues forward Conor Chaplin netting 26 league goals.