After helping the Blues gain Championship promotion while on loan from Chelsea, the versatile attacker signed in a club record £18m + add-ons deal last summer and subsequently contributed three goals and two assists in his debut Premier League campaign.

The 22-year-old, who reportedly has a £35m relegation release clause, recently played a starring role for England in their victorious European Under-21 Championship campaign and has been linked to a string of Premier League and Bundesliga clubs. 

Now, Romano states that Brentford are ‘showing initial interest’ in Hutchinson as a possible replacement for right-winger Mbeumo – the latter reportedly close to a £60m switch to Manchester United – but that ‘no club to club talks’ have taken place.

Speaking exclusively to the EADT and Ipswich Star in early June, Town chairman Mark Ashton said: “We haven’t got to sell a multitude of players, but one or two players will be traded out to give ourselves that headroom and the ability to move forward.” 

However, in an email circulated by minority owner Brett Johnson recently, which aimed to bring fresh investment to the club, it was stated:  “Up to £100m+ in player sale proceeds and £56m in parachute payments expected this summer.”

The only player Town have received a fee for so far this transfer window is striker Liam Delap, last season’s 12-goal top scorer joining Chelsea after they triggered a £30m relegation release clause.

 

STU’S VERDICT

Judging by Ashton’s comments about ‘one or two players being traded out’, it would suggest there is one more major departure to come this summer and Hutchinson is the prime candidate.

Having had a taste of the Premier League, I get the feeling he’d like to be back there. This is a player who, let’s not forget, declared he ‘wanted to be one of the best players in the world’  full 18 months ago.

First instinct was to think that £35m is a lot for someone who’s had one Premier League season in a relegated side, but that sort of money, as ridiculous as it sounds, isn’t huge anymore. Brentford will have crunched the data and seen that they could buy someone with a super high ceiling.

Based on no inside info at this stage, I’m bracing myself for a departure.