In a desperate attempt to launch themselves out of the relegation zone, Paul Lambert's Ipswich Town have recently been linked with the signing of Daryl Murphy.

The Irishman is no stranger to Portman Road, having scored 67 goals in a total of 225 appearances over four different spells with the Tractor Boys.

The 35-year-old has since moved on to Newcastle United and now Nottingham Forest, where despite netting four goals in just ten appearances for the Reds this term, he has fallen down the pecking order behind the division's leading goalscorer Lewis Grabban.

Ipswich, despite securing their first home win of the season against Wigan last weekend, remain in dire straits, and still find themselves five points adrift of safety.

Their summer recruitment was poor - Ellis Harrison and Kayden Jackson have failed to make an impact up front since arriving from Bristol Rovers and Accrington Stanley respectively, and whilst Murphy may have been a good goalscorer a few years back, he isn't getting any younger.

With that being said, here, we take a look at THREE alternatives that Paul Lambert should be on focused on signing instead...

Gary Madine could be a perfect signing for Ipswich and is a player that Lambert must go in for.

The 28-year-old is yet to make a start for Cardiff City in the Premier League this season, and it has been recently reported that Wigan Athletic could look to sign the powerful forward.

On his day, he is a really good striker at Championship level, scoring ten goals for a poor Bolton side last season before moving to the Welsh club, and could add a different dimension to Ipswich's attack.

Ipswich have recently been linked with the signing of Rudy Gestede, and you have to feel that he'd be a better signing than Murphy.

The goals may not have come for him over the last couple of years, but he has proven during his time at Blackburn Rovers that when given a run of games, he can be a real handful and find the back of the net with ease.

He has a fantastic aerial threat and will offer the same physical prowess that Murphy does. He'd be a very smart signing for the Tractor Boys.

Alternatively, Gillingham's Tom Eaves could be the perfect signing for Ipswich.

The 26-year-old is currently the leading goalscorer in League One with 15 goals in 27 matches to his name.

He has recently been linked with a move to Ipswich's Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers and Preston, as well as Steven Gerrard's Rangers. If Ipswich want to get out of the danger zone, they need to show ambition and maybe splash the cash a little.

To score that many goals for a team like Gillingham, who are currently struggling in League One, shows just how much of a handful the 6ft 3 forward can be.