Sad News;Ipswich Town goalkeeper is facing an uncertain future at the club.

 

After receiving a promotion from League One the previous season, The Tractor Boys have adapted well to life in the second division, having played a large portion of the season in and around the spots designated for automatic promotion.

Ipswich’s prospects of winning the top two spots were severely damaged, though, when they lost 2-1 at Cardiff City on Saturday. Kieffer Moore had given the visitors the lead in the 79th minute, but goals in injury time from Ryan Wintle and Callum O’Dowda sealed the three points for the Bluebirds.

The team led by Kieran McKenna is currently in third position in the standings, but they are only one point behind Leeds United in second place going into Saturday’s match at Portman Road against relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday.

McKenna has largely stuck with the same group of players that achieved promotion from League One last season, but there has been one notable change this campaign, with Vaclav Hladky replacing Christian Walton between the sticks.

Both Walton and Hladky are out of contract at the end of the season, but a big update on Hladky’s future could indicate that Walton’s time in Suffolk is set to come to an end.

Vaclav Hladky news will be concerning for Christian Walton

Walton joined Ipswich on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion in August 2021, and after establishing himself as the club’s number one, the deal was made permanent in January 2022.

The 28-year-old starred for the Tractor Boys as they won promotion last season, keeping 24 clean sheets in 47 appearances in all competitions, and his performances did not go unnoticed, with journalist Alan Nixon reporting that Premier League side Luton Town were plotting a move in the summer.

However, Walton missed the start of the season with a foot injury, and despite returning to fitness in October, he has been unable to regain his place from Hladky.