Left back Harding, who was in the Reading side that went out of the play-off semi-finals in a 3-0 aggregate loss to Burnley, will be out of contract and the defender will meet Keane to find out if he has a future at the Suffolk based club.
Ipswich would be down to one left back in Ben Thatcher after they released fellow full back Matt Richards but Thatcher is struggling to make pre-season through injury which may make keeping Harding more attractive to Keane.
However 'insiders' at Portman Road, whoever they are, have been quoted as believing Harding will still be released. Certainly the new manager, and especially one as single minded as Keane, will want to stamp his own authority on the club and bring in his own men.
Thatcher has in fact won an England Under-21 cap where he was replaced at half-time in the international at Middlesbrough, by Harding! Wonder if Dan will see the irony if he's released!
Richards though has spent most of the last two seasons on loan at Brighton. We have got history in pinching players from their boss Russell Slade after they've been loan with his side, (Walker, Yeovil), but the full back had actually gone back to his parent club at the end of last year before Slade had joined.
At 5ft. 8, he probably doesn't fit into the master race defence Tilly will want to keep now he's finally split up Clarkey and Captain Adam, however it's reported that he now prfers left midfield, a position he was in when they beat us 2-0 last August and TLG gave him a mark of seven. Sign him up then!
Blues assistant coach Paul Brush admitted in the week that left sided players were a priority, a left back certainly if Clarke goes and Dervite does not return, allowing Barrett to return to his favoured centre back position. (It just can't be Sankofa, unless we haven't signed anyone, has been known!)
Of course, Harding may wish to stay in the Championship, the new Reading manager may be interested, whoever that is after the play-off defeat saw off Coppell. The present favourite is Watford boss Brendan Rodgers, blimey he's only been there five minutes, but his assistant, ex-Blue Dean Austin, will be watching with interest, either for a quick move or maybe a quicker promotion!
If they saw the Burnley game they would know that Harding was mentioned in dispatches in glowing terms. The Reading Evening Post gave Dan a seven in a sea of sixes: Dan Harding - 7; Linked up brilliantly with Jimmy Kebe in the first half and delivered dangerous crosses. Backed off Paterson, which allowed the striker to cut in and fire home. (Whoops!)
The Ipswich fansite TWTD.co.uk have been running a poll on whether Harding should stay and presently it's close, 52% Yes, 48% No.
Comments are mixed as well.
Deckchair is 'not too fussed about Harding tbh, he seems very Championship.' (That's good enough for us and, well, you are!)
KesgraveBlue57 says; 'No to Richards and Harding both are very weak defenders, but yes to Trotter.' (He's got his wish over Richards at least.)
Rob Finbow is positive: 'Harding was a decent defender for us. Attacking defenders are always good, get the ball up, ideal.'
The Toff isn't: 'Harding is average at best, not as good as Thatcher and definately no point keeping him.'
Vemund B Skard is not a fan of Thatcher: 'I find it hard to believe that Keane won't be after a new left back in the summer. I suppose if he's going to be fair about it then he at least needs to have a look at Harding before deciding who from Harding or Richards is worth keeping (if either of them). If he does bring someone in then he could probably let both of them go and keep the talentless thug Thatcher as back up until his contract runs out as well. But if he has to keep one of them then I would definitely say Harding. I don't think he's actually that bad. He's much more usefull going forward than Thatcher and is just plain better than Richards. Although I was never one of the so-called "boo boys", (as I have never actually booed any Town player), I have to say that Richards is probably the worst player I have ever seen in an Ipswich shirt and unless he improved a hell of a lot during his seasons on loan then he simply has to go.' (He has VBS and maybe we should forget about him as well!)
petersongoal though is succinct and to the point: 'Harding is useless!'
It's not been a bad end of season for Ipswich loanees; Liam Trotter, the only other player with Harding to still find out about his Town future, is off to Wembley with Scunthorpe in the League One Play-Off Final, while Brentford won the League Two championship with the help of 18 goal scorer Billy Clarke.
Andy Scott's team also used two other Tractor Boys during the successful campaign in Dean Bowditch who scored 2 goals in 8 starts and one off the bench early on, and Justin Rhodes, who grabbed 7 goals in 14 appearances for the Bees before breaking a metatarsal.
No wonder they've been given a friendly with Ipswich, wonder who will play for who? Of course you could say the same about Southend, who will also face the Championship side, on July 22.