Ipswich prepared to sell Arsenal & Liverpool target Connor Wickham for £12 million

Connor Wickham(Getty Images)

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EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Ipswich Town are ready to sell Connor Wickham to one of the Premier League big guns if they meet the Championship club’s £12 million asking price, Goal.com can disclose.

Liverpool and Arsenal lead the chase for the England Under-21 international, who is the next young English talent on the verge of a seven-figure move this summer.

Liverpool have enquired about the 18-year-old striker – dubbed the ‘next Alan Shearer’ – in the current transfer window and told Ipswich they would be willing to pay £7m.

Ipswich told the Merseysiders they value Wickham at £14m although sources close to the negotiations have told Goal.com they would accept £12m for the youngster, who was an unused substitute in last Sunday’s European Under-21 opener against Spain.

Arsenal have proposed a loan-back deal to Ipswich, whereby they purchase the player and then loan him back to Portman Road for 12 months to continue his football education.

It is understood that Arsene Wenger believes that Wickham is not yet ready to challenge for a place in Arsenal’s first-team despite his obvious physical similarities to Nicklas Bendtner, who has expressed a desire to leave Emirates Stadium this summer.

Tottenham had a gentleman’s agreement with Ipswich when Roy Keane was manager that they have first refusal on the teenager if the price is right.

Spurs loaned youngsters Andros Townsend and Jake Livermore to Portman Road last season and have a good relationship with the Suffolk club.

Teenage star | Liverpool, Arsenal & Tottenham all want Ipswich striker Wickham

Although Harry Redknapp has received glowing reports from his scouts on Wickham’s potential, he is not convinced that the player is ready to play regularly at the highest level at this stage.

Despite being a Liverpool supporter, Wickham is open to moving to any of the Champions League calibre clubs and is likely to be swayed by the prospect of more first-team opportunities.

However, he is believed to be more content at Ipswich following Paul Jewell’s appointment in January, with all of his nine goals for the club last season coming after Keane was sacked.

“He wants to play in the Premier League but he is happy enough at Ipswich, especially since Paul Jewell came in,” a source told Goal.com.

“Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool have showed interest in this window but if he went to Arsenal and Tottenham he would sit on the bench a lot.

“Ipswich would sell for the right money but they like the idea of loaning him back for a season to help them get out of the Championship.”

Wickham’s future is unlikely to be sorted out until he returns from England Under-21 duty in Denmark, although Jewell has reiterated that there have not yet been any formal offers for his prize asset.

“Everyone seems to be talking about Connor, but there’s been no bid for him,” Jewell said on Monday.

“We’ve had enquiries, but enquiries don’t mean anything. I could ring up Barcelona and enquire about Lionel Messi, but it doesn’t mean I’ll get him.

“Connor is happy here and as far as we’re concerned he’ll be with us for next season. The good thing is that we don’t have to sell anyone.”