Ipswich Town and Norwich City are set to go to war in an attempt to sign Jamal Lowe during the summer transfer window.
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Battle of East Anglian for Jamal Lowe
The two rivals are expected to make a move for the 29-year-old this summer, when he becomes a free agent following the expiration of his contract with AFC Bournemouth, according to TBR Football’s Graeme Bailey.
The outlet also reported that other Championship clubs, including Middlesbrough, Millwall and Watford, are keen on the striker. TBR believes newly promoted League One sides Portsmouth and Derby are also in the running to land the Jamaican.
The 29-year-old spent almost three years at Fratton Park earlier in his career and he helped them win League Two and the EFL Trophy.
Lowe is currently on loan at Swansea City, where he has been their most productive player in front of goal, but the Swans are unsure if they can bring him back this summer, due to his wages. at the moment with the Cherries.
Manager Luke Williams said, via the Bournemouth Echo: “I think it’s going to be difficult because Jamal has a Premier League salary. This could be a real problem.
“Jamal’s contract in his first term here was probably from when the club was still operating almost on a Premier League budget. Then he continued [to the Cherries] still on a Premier League level deal.
“But this club no longer operates at this level. I think we need to be clear on what that’s going to look like if we’re going to do anything.”
Jamal Lowe’s championship record
After initially leaving Swansea to join Bournemouth in August 2022 for £1.5 million, according to the Echo, his career path has not remained on as upward a trajectory as he and many others had hoped.
Low helped Bournemouth return to the Premier League, during the 2021/22 campaign, but he has not been a major contributor to the team. Once the Cherries reached the top flight, he struggled to force his way into the team.
He was loaned out to Queens Park Rangers last season, where he struggled, but he returned to South Wales this season and picked up where he left off with them.
| Jamal Lowe’s two seasons with Swansea City (Championship stats) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| apps | Departures | Goals | Scoring frequency (minutes) | Conversion rate (%) | Aids | Big chances created | |||
| 2020/21 | 46 | 42 | 14 | 247 | 17 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2023/24 | 32 | 24 | 9 | 248 | 17 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Statistics taken from Sofascore – correct as of April 30 | |||||||||
Ipswich shouldn’t be too high on Jamal Lowe
Ipswich’s trajectory sends them to the Premier League. All they need from their final two games of the campaign are four points and they will seal their place alongside Leicester City as automatic promotion winners for the second season running.
Plans will be in place for the summer window, as Bailey’s report on their interest in Lowe shows, but it appears they should aim a little higher.
The main thing Town’s team lacks, compared to every other top team at this level, including Leicester, is experience at this level.
Lowe, despite being under contract with Bournemouth, who play in the Premier League, has not shown that he is capable of playing a big role in a team in that league.
This reported interest would be more understandable if the Jamaican was one of the most successful strikers in the second tier this season. He hasn’t been bad, but he hasn’t really taken the league by storm.
If Norwich are not promoted, then a deal for a player like the 29-year-old would make sense. Championship-proven tactical flexibility would help replace Josh Sargent when he is injured; there are a lot of factors for them to like about him.
Ipswich signing Lowe, however, for the salary he probably wants, would seem a bit disappointing.
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