Ipswich Town have not progressed their interest in Sunderland forward Charlie Wyke with the 28-year-old a player in a lot of demand this summer, according to the East Anglian Daily Times.

The Tractor Boys have previously been linked with a potential move for Wyke this summer. Football Insider reported that Ipswich were prepared to offer him a lucrative contract make the switch to Portman Road.

That comes with Wyke set to be out of contract with Sunderland this summer, and despite the Black Cats wanting to keep hold of him, the 28-year-old has been linked with a move to a host of clubs following him scoring 26 goals in 45 league matches last term.

The latest reports from the Northern Echo have revealed that Wyke has held fresh talks with Celtic recently over the prospect of making the move to the Scottish Premier League. While it added that the Black Cats have all but given up hope of keeping hold of him.

However, the East Anglian Daily Times has seemingly now ruled Ipswich out of the race for Wyke suggesting that they have not progressed their interest in the forward despite then being keen to add to their forward options.

The verdict

It was always going to be a very difficult transfer for Ipswich to pull off this summer considering the level of interest that there has been in Wyke’s situation at Sunderland. It would have been a major coup for Paul Cook’s side if they could have landed a player who was so prolific in League One last term and got him from a potential promotion rival.

However, it seems that they have realised that they are not going to be able to compete with what someone like Celtic can offer the forward this summer. It is therefore the sensible approach to have not progressed their interest and wasted time pursuing a move that was unlikely to ever be able to get over the line for them.

It does leave Ipswich needing to assess other potential targets and they are being linked with moves for other attacking players. Their decision on Wyke shows that they are being sensible and pragmatic in their approach to strengthening the squad this summer and that should put them in a good position.