This month, Ipswich Town beat Birmingham City and Premier League side AFC Bournemouth to the signing of Stevenage midfield star Ryan Doherty.

Doherty has only made three league games for the Boro this season, but he is widely considered as one of the greatest young midfielders in the EFL at now.

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Doherty is certain to join with Ipswich before the end of the month, despite interest from a number of other clubs in the English football pyramid.

The Tractor Boys saw Doherty’s signing as a major coup for the club, having successfully fended off interest from other clubs to get him to Portman Road, where he will most likely play in the youth side at first but will eventually work his way into the first squad.

Ipswich Town defeated Birmingham City and AFC Bournemouth in the race for Stevenage sensation. Ryan Doherty

Indeed, it looks like Ipswich have won the race for Stevenage’s Doherty, with Birmingham City and AFC Bournemouth earlier reported to be interested in the 17-year-old.

Doherty signed his first professional deal with Stevenage in August and has been a regular in the first team this season, appearing in three third-tier games.

Doherty has made only 11 first-team appearances for the Hertfordshire club, with his first league start coming in a 1-0 home defeat to high-flying Cardiff, where he looked well at home.

The sum Ipswich will pay to bring him to Suffolk has not yet been announced, but Stevenage will most certainly have included a lucrative sell-on clause if he lives up to his considerable potential.

Doherty will join Kieran McKenna’s side in the coming days after deciding on Ipswich as the next step in his career, with the Tractor Boys putting their noses in front of both Birmingham and Ipswich for his signature.

Ipswich Town and Kieran McKenna are seeking for fresh recruits after the Ryan Doherty move as the transfer window counts down.

Following the arrival of Doherty, Ipswich do not appear to be finished yet, with days remaining on the window.

Ipswich have already signed Anis Mehmeti and Dan Neil this month, with Doherty expected to be their third acquisition.

McKenna appears to be looking for another centre-forward to join Ivan Azon, George Hirst, and Chuba Akpom up front, with much of the season’s goals coming from Jack Clarke and Jaden Philogene.

This season, none of their current centre-forward alternatives have impressed at Portman Road, prompting speculation about Leeds United’s Joel Piroe and Nashville’s Sam Surridge.

FLW has reported that the Tractor Boys have joined bitter rivals Norwich City in the pursuit of Bodo/Glimt attacker Kasper Hogh before the end of the month.

If Ipswich make another signing before the window closes at 7 p.m. on February 2nd, it looks like it will be a striker.

However, for the time being, Ipswich can be satisfied with the arrival of Doherty, who they aim to grow and nurture into a great talent in the coming years.