(Credit: Getty, Hasan Karim - Breaking Media)

Oliver Walton

Thu 7 August 2025 15:03, UK

Newcastle could finally get another permanent transfer over the line by revisiting their previous interest in Ipswich Town left-back Leif Davis amid rumours that he is set to depart Portman Road.

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The Magpies’ summer window has been one to remember for all the wrong reasons so far, with multiple big-name players choosing to snub their transfer interest in favour of joining a different Premier League side.

Football Insider revealed in June that Newcastle are expected to make up to three major signings this summer, and while they have signed Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, he is their only permanent capture up to now with the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Bryan Mbeumo choosing Liverpool and Man United respectively instead of moves to St James’ Park.

(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

They have also been rocked by star striker Alexander Isak wanting to leave Newcastle, while Benjamin Sesko looks set to join Man United rather than the Magpies in their latest major setback.

With a number of targets slipping through the club’s fingers, Eddie Howe perhaps needs to focus on signing more attainable players right now, and he could start by making a move to sign Tractor Boys star Davis, who has a special connection to the Magpies.

The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath (6 August) has reported that recently-relegated Ipswich have turned down a number of bids for 25-year-old Davis from unnamed Premier League clubs.

He is said to be on numerous sides’ shortlists as it stands, particularly those looking at left-backs, but the Portman Road outfit are “determined” to have him part of their upcoming Championship campaign, even though they are expecting more offers to come their way.

https://x.com/mcgrathmike/status/1953368741477040221?s=46&t=busTurDhk_-RswKrlS6YdA

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Davis proved his quality in the top-flight last year, despite Ipswich’s struggles, with one goal and two assists in 33 appearances, and he is clearly a level above the second-tier after notching two strikes and a whopping 18 assists in 43 games in 2023/24.

He would be ideal cover at left-back in Howe’s squad, as his only current back-up options to Lewis Hall are an aging Matt Targett and an unproven Alex Murphy, while Davis is also affordable, homegrown and has room to get even better at 25.

Newcastle have had him on their radar before, as talkSPORT revealed in February last year that the Magpies were “keeping tabs” on Davis alongside West Ham.

He was believed to be available to sign if Ipswich didn’t get promoted, but while they did and he stayed on at Portman Road, the fact they are now back in the second-tier could point to him being open to move for the right price once again.

As well as this, Davis has previously confessed his desire to play for Newcastle at St James’ Park, as he is a born and bred Geordie, and also revealed to the East Anglian Daily Times last year that he once had a season ticket at their ground and that Ipswich’s fixture against the Magpies was set to be a “special day” for him and his family.

Ipswich’s pre-season plans have mainly been clouded by Omari Hutchinson’s exit saga, with the Tractor Boys recently rejecting a £35million bid [The Athletic] from Nottingham Forest for his services.

They will not want to lose another key man in Davis, and even less so after Kieran McKenna recently confirmed that Conor Townsend is set to be out for an extended period with an ACL injury.

AppearancesGoalsAssists123533Davis’ Ipswich career stats

Townsend’s layoff leaves Davis as the club’s only senior recognised left-back as it stands, and as they aim to make a strong start to the new season, Ipswich are unlikely to want to lose him anytime soon unless they can get a replacement sorted quickly.

The Tractor Boys could move to re-sign free agent Brandon Williams, after Football Insider revealed on Tuesday (5 August) that several Championship clubs want to sign Williams alongside Hull City, but it remains to be seen whether they will sanction Davis’ exit at all after this injury bombshell.

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