Ipswich Town among clubs interested in former Stade Reims centre-back

Ipswich Town are among the clubs interested in Paris FC centre-back Moustapha Mbow, according to RMC Sport.

Ipswich Town have bounced back to the Premier League at the first time of asking after finishing 2nd in the Championship table. ITFC had to battle for the top two, but they will be joining Coventry City in the top flight next season.

Despite the strength of the Tractor Boys’ squad and belief in Kieran McKenna, the ranks will be bolstered this summer. New signings will arrive at Portman Road and some of their promotion-winning figures will move on.

Now, in a new report from France, it is said that one player on the Ipswich Town radar is Paris FC defender Moustapha Mbow. RMC Sport states that the Tractor Boys are alongside Crystal Palace, Fulham, West Ham and an unnamed german side in eyeing the centre-back.

Mbow, 26, is under contract with the ambitious Paris FC until 2028. He joined from Stade Reims in 2023 and has acquitted himself well in his first season of Ligue 1 football.

Ipswich Town eye top flight pedigree with Moustapha Mbow targeted

Ipswich Town will level up their recruitment upon promotion to the Premier League. Not only will their budget be bigger, but they’ll be able to attract a higher calibre of player thanks to the pull of top flight football.

In a bid to avoid relegation this time around, ITFC will hope to sign players who are already proven at top flight level. Mbow has shown this season that he can cut it in France’s top tier, and interest from a handful of Premier League clubs shows there’s a belief he can be an asset on these shores too.

Standing at 192cm tall, Mbow is a powerful figure at the heart of defence. He has mainly played in a back four with Paris but their switch to a five-back earlier in 2026 shows he can adjust if McKenna decides to make tactical tweaks for Premier League football.

Mbow’s tally of 267 defensive contributions in Ligue 1 ranks him in the division’s top 5% for that metric. His aerial prowess is displayed by a top 10% ranking in aerial duels won too.

Moustapha Mbow’s Paris FC stats

Could Ipswich Town look to strengthen at centre-back?

The current Ipswich Town backline has served them well this season. Despite this, a ruthless approach must be taken when it comes to strengthening for the Premier League.

Captain Dara O’Shea will be backed to maintain his starting berth having performed well in the division before. Jacob Greaves will be looking forward to a second shot in the top flight as well.

Cedric Kipre is staying and given the shrewd permanent fee, few will complain about his presence as a cover option. Elkan Baggott will be widely expected to move on from ITFC, however. The Indonesian could benefit from a loan move back into the EFL and should not be short of suitors.

That would leave McKenna with three centre-backs, so at least two more will be signed. It could be that one of those is signed with the intention of starting alongside O’Shea in the Premier League.