Elkan Baggott has decided to commit his future to Ipswich Town despite interest from Premier League Everton, according to
TWTD.
12 months ago, the Toffees snapped up a promising young centre-back from the Football League, fighting off competition from across the top flight for Carlisle United’s breakthrough star Jarrad Branthwaite.
Perhaps inspired by the way Branthwaite adapted impressively to life at Goodison Park, Everton were planning to strike a similar deal for another highly-talented teenage defender.
Baggott shone on his first-team debut in Ipswich’s 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Gillingham in October.
While opportunities since then have been few and far between, the Bangkok-born starlet did enough on that cold Autumn night to suggest he is, in fact, the real deal.
The archetypal, modern-day centre-half, 6ft 4ins Baggott is excellent in the air (as you might expect, given his size) but is also comfortable with the ball at his feet, starting attacks from the back with his fine passing range.
Some reports had suggested that Baggott had turned down the chance to sign a professional contract with a struggling Ipswich side who appear to be lurching from crisis to catastrophe in League One.
TWTD, however, say that is not the case. Baggott simply wanted time to consider his options and, despite interest from Everton, he has now put pen to paper at Portman Road.
The East Anglian Daily Times say that Leeds and West Ham United were also interested. But the youngster could now remain at Ipswich until 2023.
Baggott will now be hoping to force his way into Paul Lambert’s side on a more regular basis. If he succeeds, it won’t be long before Everton, Leeds and co are back on the phone.
