Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap is set to be one of the most sought-after names this summer, with a number of top clubs looking to capitalise on the club’s imminent relegation.
The 22-year-old joined Ipswich only 12 months ago from Manchester City’s academy and has since scored 12 goals and registered two assists in 32 Premier League appearances. It's an impressive return for a player in a side that has scored just 33 goals and looks destined for a return to the Championship.
Widespread reports suggest Delap has a release clause in his contract that will allow him to leave for a fee in the region of £30 million once relegation is confirmed. Manchester United, Chelsea, and now Newcastle United have all been linked with the striker in recent weeks.
According to the latest from The Telegraph, the Carabao Cup winners are keen on a summer move and have been tracking Delap since his days at Manchester City. They’re aware of the release clause and believe it represents good value for a forward of his calibre.
Delap certainly won’t be short of options this summer and will have a big decision to make. What sways that decision remains to be seen, but there’s no denying United are in desperate need of reinforcements up front, which could bode well in terms of expected playing time.
The former City man has been a key figure for Ipswich this season, featuring in all but one of their Premier League matches under Kieran McKenna, only missing out once due to suspension. It would be a surprise to see him accept a back-up role elsewhere given his importance this term.
At Newcastle, Alexander Isak is expected to stay at St James’ Park for the foreseeable future. A certainty if Eddie Howe’s side qualify for the Champions League, despite reported interest from Liverpool and Arsenal.
With Isak in place, Delap would face a huge challenge to displace one of the league’s most prolific strikers. While the move makes complete sense for the Magpies - especially with a heavier fixture schedule and a possible departure for current back-up Callum Wilson - it ultimately comes down to whether Delap is willing to play second fiddle.
From a United perspective, there’s a glaring hole in the squad in those forward areas, with growing uncertainty over the long-term futures of both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, despite the latter only arriving last summer. With links to Matheus Cunha also ramping up, a deal for Delap could represent part of an exciting overhaul of Ruben Amorim's forward line next season.
What United are unlikely to be able to offer - at least for now- that Newcastle likely will be able to is Champions League football. That could still change, of course, with the Red Devils preparing for a Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao and the Magpies' race for the top-five heating up.
Winning UEFA’s secondary competition would secure a return to the Champions League, despite an otherwise disappointing mid-table finish in the Premier League.
From a negotiating standpoint, United could have another advantage as they appointed Jason Wilcox as the club's technical director last year, as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’ major shake-up at Old Trafford. Wilcox previously held a role at Manchester City overseeing their academy, and he was heavily involved in bringing Delap - then just 16- to the club from Derby County in 2019.
Where this transfer saga ends up remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt it will be one of the biggest tussles of the summer window.
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