Ipswich Town Pursues Julio Enciso Reunion as Gary O’Neil Targets Strasbourg Star

Ipswich Town are lining up an ambitious move to bring Julio Enciso back to Portman Road, with new manager Gary O’Neil pushing hard to reunite with the Paraguay international, according to Sky Sports.

Enciso, still only 22, knows the Suffolk club well. He spent the second half of the 2024–25 season on loan with the Tractor Boys from Brighton & Hove Albion, chipping in with two goals and three assists in 13 appearances and leaving the sense there was much more to come. His sharp movement, direct running and willingness to take risks on the ball gave Ipswich an extra edge in the final third.

Now the picture has changed. O’Neil, recently appointed at Ipswich, worked with Enciso at RC Strasbourg Alsace and has made him a priority target. Their time together in Alsace clearly left a mark. O’Neil saw at close quarters how Enciso grew from a promising loanee into a consistent attacking threat in one of Europe’s toughest leagues.

The numbers from his first full season in France are striking. Since arriving at Strasbourg last summer, Enciso has played 42 times in all competitions, delivering 12 goals and nine assists. Twenty-one goal contributions from a wide forward of his age is the kind of return that makes recruitment departments sit up, especially when those contributions often came in tight games where margins were thin.

His rise has not been confined to club football. Enciso was a key figure in Paraguay’s World Cup campaign, helping drive an impressive run to the round of 16. The standout moment? Playing a major role in knocking Germany out of the tournament, a result that reverberated far beyond South America and underlined his temperament on the biggest stage.

That blend of club form and international pedigree comes at a price. Enciso is under contract with Strasbourg until 2030, giving the French club a strong hand in any negotiations. The forward is currently valued at €25m by Transfermarkt, a figure that would represent a significant outlay for Ipswich and underline the scale of their ambition if they decide to press ahead.

For Ipswich, the equation is clear. They know exactly what Enciso can bring to Portman Road. O’Neil knows exactly how to use him. Strasbourg, tied to a long contract and holding a rising asset, know exactly what he is worth.

Now the question is whether the Tractor Boys are ready to pay that kind of fee to turn a popular former loanee into a statement signing at the heart of a new era.