Ipswich Town are ‘not pursuing’ Chelsea forward Kendry Paez, despite being linked with a surprise move for the Ecuador international.

The 18-year-old is regarded as one of South America’s best developing prospects, with Chelsea agreeing to pay £17.2 million to purchase Paez in 2023, despite the fact that he only joined the London club this summer.

However, a loan was always viewed as the next stage in his development, and he joined Strasbourg, but his time in France has not gone as planned, as he has failed to make the starting lineup on a regular basis, with the majority of his appearances coming off the bench.

Ipswich Town is not looking to sign Chelsea’s Kendry Paez in January.

As a result, several stories stated that his stay in France could be cut short, and another switch to Portman Road was possible.

Given Paez’s potential, it would have been a huge coup for Ipswich, and it’s no secret that Kieran McKenna wants to sign an attacking midfielder if feasible.

However, the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star have established that Paez will not be moving to Suffolk. They clarify that he isn’t a player the club is currently tracking, so no deal is expected before the deadline.

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea would return Paez, as Strasbourg is now managed by Gary O’Neil, who succeeded Liam Rosenior after joining Stamford Bridge.

Ipswich Town must target quality ahead of the January transfer deadline.

This would have been a highly anticipated acquisition for Ipswich fans, since Paez is widely expected to play at the top level in the coming years.

However, it has always seemed like a long shot for Ipswich, but this is the type of player they should be looking for ahead of the January deadline.

Fortunately for McKenna, he isn’t in a situation where he needs to scramble to get players through the door. Ipswich are in tremendous form, have an excellent starting lineup, and have some genuine potential to come off the bench in every game.

So, it’s not just about recruiting players for the fun of it; they need quality players who will elevate the level – and they won’t be easy to find. Paez would have done it, but it isn’t happening, therefore it’s now about targeting players with similar profiles.

Ipswich clearly needs another attacker, and a huge acquisition this month may make all the difference as they aim to return to the Premier League with a top two finish.