Ipswich Town’s interest in Anis Mehmeti from Bristol City feels like one of those links that actually adds up once you look at the type of player he is.
He’s 25 now, English‑born but playing for Albania, and his game has developed in a way that suits teams who play with structure and intensity.
Ipswich under McKenna fall firmly into that category. Mehmeti carries the ball well, presses properly, and moves into the pockets where Ipswich do most of its damage. He’s not a headline name, but he fits the profile the club usually go after.
Mehmeti hasn’t had the kind of rise people like to pretend exists in English football. He bounced around a bit.
Started at Fulham, then over to Tottenham, then ended up with Norwich’s U18s. Three decent academies, but nothing really opened up for him. No big breakthrough, no fast‑track moment. Just a lot of moving and not much certainty.
When that door shut, he didn’t disappear. He went the other way down into Woodford Town. Non‑league. Proper football.
The sort of place where you learn quickly whether you actually want a career or just like the idea of one. The pitches aren’t great, the tackles come early, and nobody cares where you used to be. That spell toughened him up. Probably did more for him than any academy badge.
Then Wycombe took a chance. Ainsworth’s football isn’t gentle. You run, you press, you fight for second balls. It’s not glamorous, but it shapes you. Mehmeti came out of that environment sharper, more switched on, and with a bit of edge to his game.
By the time Bristol City came in, he looked ready for the Championship. And he’s handled it. Carries the ball well, plays at tempo, finds pockets, doesn’t hide.
Albania called him up, too, which tells you he’s not just another squad player drifting around the league. He’s built himself up step by step, and none of it was handed to him.
Mehmeti isn’t the sort of No. 10 who stands around waiting for the game to come to him. He plays on the move. Always looking for a gap, a loose touch, a defender off balance. His whole game has a bit of urgency to it.
When he gets it, he goes forward. No hesitation. He commits defenders, drags people out of shape, and forces teams to react. Ipswich often need someone who can do that when the passing lanes get tight.
You can see the Wycombe years in him. He doesn’t just sprint at people. He angles his runs, shuts off the easy pass, and makes opponents play into trouble. McKenna values that more than raw energy.
He naturally drifts into those half‑spaces where defenders aren’t sure whether to step out or hold their line. That’s where Ipswich create most of their combinations, and he already operates there without needing instruction.
He doesn’t switch off when the ball is lost. Tracks runners, fills gaps, and puts in the yards. Ipswich can’t carry passengers in that central role, and he doesn’t play like one.
Ipswich operate in a 4‑3‑2‑1 that relies heavily on movement from the two attacking midfielders rather than one fixed No. 10. It’s a shape that needs players who drift, link, press, and don’t clog the central lanes. Mehmeti already plays in those pockets without needing much guidance.
-Fits the Attacking Midfield Role Naturally-
In this system, the two behind the striker aren’t luxury creators. They’re connectors. They slide wide, drop into gaps, and press high when the trigger comes. Mehmeti’s game already leans that way — he receives on the half‑turn, drives forward, and doesn’t wait for the game to find him.
Teams sit deep against Ipswich now. Passing through them isn’t always on. Mehmeti gives you that option where he just gets it, turns, and runs at people. That forces defenders to step out, and once they do, space opens for the wide runners.
McKenna’s press is organised. It’s not just sprinting at the nearest shirt. Mehmeti’s Wycombe background means he understands how to close angles and force mistakes without leaving holes behind him. That’s exactly what Ipswich need from the players behind the striker.
Ipswich’s wide players drift inside a lot. The two attacking midfielders have to slide out, drop deeper, or push higher depending on the moment. Mehmeti already plays with that kind of freedom at Bristol City. He doesn’t get stuck in one lane, which keeps the attack unpredictable.
He’s 25. Old enough to handle the Championship grind, young enough to grow with the team. Ipswich like players in that bracket — players who can improve inside the system rather than ones who’ve already peaked.
If Ipswich do end up going for Ains Mehmeti, it won’t be one of those big, noisy signings that get pushed around social media for a week.
It’ll be the sort of move that makes sense once you look at how he plays and what McKenna asks from that part of the pitch.
He’s worked his way up the hard way, he’s got the engine for the system, and he’s comfortable in the areas where Ipswich try to hurt teams.
Nothing about him feels like a gamble for the sake of it. It’s more the kind of addition that slots in quietly and ends up being useful over a long season. And with the way Ipswich play, that’s usually the type that sticks.
