Lee Martin has completed a move to Ipswich and will be wearing the blue shirt for four (yes four) years.
I don’t remember the last time a new Ipswich signing was given a four year deal, but it shows the high hopes that manager Roy Keane has for the 22-year-old who rejected the chance to stay at Man Utd for a further year.
Martin becomes the third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Troy Brown from Fulham and left-back Damien Delaney from QPR.
RK was coming towards the end of his United career by the time that Martin was then pushing into the youth and reserve sides, so he knows a bit about the left winger who has had a number of loan spells in his six years at Old Trafford, including Nottingham Forest last season.
Lee can also be used up front if needs be, and has played there a couple of times for the Man U reserve side. In the final game of last season, Martin made his league debut for the Reds.
The fee paid by Ipswich is officially undisclosed, although it is likely to be in the region of £1.5 million.
I am pleased that Keane has drafted in a left-midfielder that will provide both cover and competition for the injured Luca Civelli, but there is no way that Martin would have joined when Jim Magilton was still in charge. This signing proves that we are now a very attractive side to potential players, having also beaten off competition from Bristol City and Birmingham.
Now I feel all we need is a goalscoring striker and we are sorted for the summer!
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