It is clear that Hutchinson is developing well under Kieran McKenna, and it would be perhaps in his best interests to remain at Portman Road for another season, either on loan, or possibly on a permanent basis if Chelsea are willing to sell the young Jamaica international.
Hutchinson is only 20 and is capable of operating in either a wide forward role, or as an attacking-midfielder, making him a good fit for plenty of roles within McKenna’s set up. However, Hutchinson has started just 17 of his 42 games in all competitions for Ipswich so far, predominantly featuring as a right-sided attacker cutting in on his left-foot.
Ipswich’s Chelsea loanee has been in great form in recent months, and has still been a key player for the Tractor Boys so far this season despite not starting every game. Hutchinson’s contributions of late have seen him start more frequently, with eight goals or assists in the last nine Championship games.
He signed off in spectacular fashion before the international break, with two goals and an assist in a 6-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, and is evidently developing rapidly at Portman Road.
Fabrizio Romano reported recently that a number of European sides are monitoring the 20-year-old’s progress this season, so Chelsea could be subject to multiple bids for the player in the summer, when he will have just a year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge.
Here, we ask our FLW writers their verdict on what should be his next career move. Should Ipswich look for a permanent deal if they are promoted?
While Hutchinson has not managed to nail down a regular starting place in the Ipswich team due to the fact that McKenna likes to rotate his attacking options, his recent form has given him an opportunity to lay down a marker in Ipswich’s quest for automatic promotion, and he could be pivotal in the run-in.
He’s got all the tools in his arsenal to develop into a Premier League player at some stage, and that could well be next season, with further game time needed in the top-flight to achieve his enormous potential. The winger is one of the most direct players in an extremely attack-minded Ipswich side, and McKenna would surely love to have the player for longer, if possible.
Hutchinson carries a two-way threat of being a creative playmaker and a strong ball-striker in and around the penalty area, but it is his direct dribbling that makes him such a high quality player in settled play or on the counter-attack for Ipswich, and, with more refinement, could showcase those talents in the Premier League.
There’s a reason he broke through with Arsenal and Chelsea as one of the highest-rated players in his age group, and another loan or permanent deal with Ipswich would make a lot of sense for Hutchinson next season. However, even with a year left on his deal, it’s likely he would be valued at well into the eight-figure fee region.
The adaptation to top-flight football would be far easier in familiar surroundings in terms of playing staff, coaching staff, and the club itself.
His Chelsea future is up in the air but you would imagine that they are keen to tie him down to fresh terms and a long-term contract and loan him out again, be that to a Premier League or Championship side this summer, and Ipswich will be at the front of the queue in that instance, irrespective of the league they find themselves in this summer.
