Tom Lawrence is lighting up the Championship, and clubs are beginning to notice

Leicester City loanee Tom Lawrence has been scoring goals at a feverish pace in the Championship and has made for an interesting January transfer window for both the Foxes and loan club Ipswich Town.

The midfielder and Manchester United academy product signed a loan deal in August with Ipswich until the end of the season and has been a revelation in a disappointing campaign for the Tractor Boys, who sit 14th in the Championship and 11 points off a playoff spot.

Lawrence has potted five goals in his last three matches, including two beautiful goals from distance against QPR and Blackburn in the Championship. Two more goals from Lawrence in a 2-2 draw against Lincoln City rescued Ipswich from an embarrassing result and forced a replay after the Conference National side were deserving of going through.

Ipswich lost to QPR at Loftus Road 2-1, but left knowing they got to witness this wonderstrike in person:

Town fans recently voted Lawrence as the Player of the Month for the second month in a row on Monday with an inevitable third for January most likely on the way. They’re also left wondering what more convincing the Ipswich board and manager Mick McCarthy need in order to sign the midfielder, but McCarthy acknowledged the rumors and said there wouldn’t be much the club could do if a substantial offer came from another club.

The biggest names involved include Norwich City, who have began to pursue Lawrence’s signature this window with the potential departure of Robbie Brady.

“If Derby, Norwich or other clubs are interested in him then he won’t be coming here because they’d pay a bigger transfer fee and he’d get more money at those clubs no doubt,” McCarthy said in an interview on January 4.

“We’re not going to go out and spend two and three million on fees and 20 grand a week on wages, it’s not happening. We have to get on with what we’ve got and do the best we can.”

Lawrence has a clause in his deal that makes Leicester unable to recall the midfielder, but the club are fully within their capabilities to sell him if a deal arises. Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has a choice to make in deciding if Lawrence is in his long-term plans after stacking the midfield with the likes of Daniel Amartey, Nampalys Mendy and Wilfred Ndidi in the past 12 months.

Lawrence has made four senior appearances for Wales and has seven goals in 20 appearances for Ipswich this season. He’ll be back in action Tuesday when Town face Lincoln in a FA Cup Third Round Replay.