Don Goodman believes Emmanuel Lath should remain at Middlesbrough this month rather than move to Ipswich Town, as he doesn’t see the striker breaking into the starting lineup at Ipswich. Goodman suggests Lath focus on helping Boro secure promotion and reassess his options in the summer.
Lath has been linked with several clubs this January, including Ipswich, Leeds United, Leicester City, and West Ham United. Ipswich have had an interest in Lath since the summer, having previously had a £20 million bid rejected by Boro, and remain keen on bringing him in.
However, Goodman feels Lath would not be a regular starter at Ipswich due to the strong form of Liam Delap. He cited the example of Gus Hamer at Sheffield United, who joined a Premier League club that was relegated shortly after, as a cautionary tale.

Goodman stated, “Lath wouldn’t get a game at Ipswich Town. He’s not going to replace Delap, who’s been performing well. Unless he’s willing to play a bench role, a move wouldn’t benefit him. While Boro’s defense can be frustrating, he must enjoy the chances they create for him. I recommend Lath stays at Middlesbrough, enjoys playing under Michael Carrick, and focuses on a strong second half of the season. If Boro don’t get promoted, he can reevaluate in the summer.”
Goodman also emphasized that joining Ipswich could risk a similar fate to Hamer’s, who moved to a Premier League team only to face immediate relegation. He cautioned that Lath should be aware of the potential for such a scenario.
Staying at Boro, where Lath is playing well and the team is in playoff contention, gives him the best chance to earn Premier League football by helping his current club gain promotion. If Boro doesn’t secure promotion, Lath would still have options in the summer to make a more informed decision.
Goodman’s point about Delap’s form at Ipswich makes it unlikely that Lath would be a regular starter there, suggesting that the smarter choice for now is to stay at Riverside and reconsider his options in the summer.