Garbutt open to permanent Ipswich move – was he unrealised talent?

Everton defender Luke Garbutt has admitted he would be open to joining Ipswich Town on a permanent basis in the summer.

The 26-year old is currently on a season-long loan at Portman Road, where his aim is to help steer the League One side back to the second flight.

Garbutt was once seen as the natural successor to Leighton Baines at Goodison Park, playing ten times in all competitions during the 2014/15 season and impressing in his appearances.

However, after a relatively uneventful loan spell with Fulham in the Championship the following season, Garbutt fell off of the radar for the club’s first-team, and he hasn’t made an appearance since.

Following loan spells with Wigan and Oxford United, Garbutt will look to find a new permanent home when his Everton contract expires this summer, and the left-back feels that Ipswich would be a good place to call home.

Talking to the East Anglian Times, Garbutt admitted he would like to remain in Suffolk, although he claimed to be focusing on earning the side promotion first. Garbutt said:

I’ve really enjoyed my time here, I’ve settled in well into the group and the fans are brilliant. Playing in front of 20,000 is what I want to be doing.

So as long as we keep playing well and doing well as a squad, I don’t see why I wouldn’t stay permanently. I’m settled and enjoying my football.

I think I’ll leave that side of it to my agent and the powers that be at this football club because at the moment I’m just focussing on my football and trying to perform to the best I possibly can do.

My sole focus is making sure I play to the best of my ability for Ipswich Town Football Club and to make sure we get promoted this season.

Read Everton Verdict

Luke Garbutt is one of Everton’s greatest mysteries to me, at least during my time as a supporter. I remember when fans were worried that Garbutt would be tempted elsewhere after his breakthrough season, and him signing a contract extension was a relief.

So much has happened since then and Garbutt is miles off where fans had hoped he would be at this point in his career.

The full-back will leave for somewhere new next summer, and hopefully he succeeds. It was a shame that it didn’t happen at Everton, though.