Ashley Young is on the lookout for a new club after leaving Everton but a fairytale return to Watford has fallen through, which has allowed Ipswich to swoop in
Ashley Young has emerged as a target for Ipswich as the winger, who recently left Everton, continues to eye up a new club at the age of 40.
The ex-Manchester United star was heavily linked with a move to Watford, the club where he began his career. The Hornets were even willing to hand him the captain’s armband but the switch eventually stalled due to wages.
Now Ipswich, who have the benefit of Premier League parachute payments, are ready to swoop in and add him to their squad. Young has not played in the second tier of English football for nearly two decades but is set to take the decision to drop down a league to keep his career going, reports TalkSport.
The Tractor Boys have just been relegated and those who impressed, the likes of Liam Delap, have moved on. Omari Hutchinson could follow him and Kieran McKenna is trying to create a team capable of bouncing straight back up.
Young was part of the Watford team that gained promotion from the Championship via the play-offs back in 2006. Ipswich and Watford go head-to-head on November 4 at Portman Road, which could see the winger go up against his boyhood club. The return game at Vicarage Road is in late February.
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Young continued to contribute for the Toffees last term but with David Moyes now at the helm the decision has been made to part ways. The veteran wide man became the oldest player in Premier League history to score from a free-kick when he notched for Everton against Wolves back in December.
His first major move came in 2007 when he left Watford and headed to Aston Villa. He impressed at Villa Park over a number of years and was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson, spending nine years with the Manchester side, where he won the title. He later went to Inter Milan and had a second stint with Villa.
The veteran has no plans to call it a day and recently said: “It’s been one of those things where I’ve played so much this season. I feel so fit. I’ve not felt as fit as I have done for years. I just want to continue playing, however that may look, however that may seem, I’m not ready to retire.
“I’m definitely going to carry on next season. Whichever way that is. I’m not getting any younger. I’m going to be 40 in July. I feel as fit as when I was in my 20s. I’m definitely going to continue. The stats are there – I’ve played 31 times this season and I feel I can keep going.”
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