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Premier League Giants Chelsea and Manchester United Vie for Liam Delap
A transfer battle is brewing between Premier League heavyweights Chelsea and Manchester United for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. A release clause, reportedly dropping to £30 million should Ipswich suffer relegation from the Premier League, has alerted top clubs to the young forward’s potential availability this summer.
Delap’s Impressive Season Attracts Top Clubs
Liam Delap has experienced a significant breakthrough season since his departure from Manchester City. He has scored 12 goals in 33 appearances for Ipswich, drawing considerable attention from clubs monitoring the young striker’s development. Potential suitors who previously explored acquiring Delap from Manchester City were previously met with stringent financial and contractual demands. Interested parties were informed of the need to present substantial offers and await the player’s decision regarding his preferred destination.
Relegation Clause Could Trigger Transfer Move
Ipswich Town initially secured Delap’s services for a £15 million fee, with an additional £5 million in potential add-ons, following their promotion. The 22-year-old has been instrumental in their fight for Premier League survival. However, Kieran McKenna’s team currently sits 12 points adrift of 17th-placed Wolves with only seven games remaining. Their hopes of commanding a larger transfer fee for the England Under-21 international will be significantly impacted if they are relegated.
Chelsea and Manchester United Lead Transfer Chase
Compounding Ipswich’s situation is not only a 20% sell-on clause owed to Manchester City, but also Delap’s reduced £30 million release clause triggered by relegation. This development is expected to pique the strong interest of both Chelsea and Manchester United, each seeking to reinforce their attacking options. Manchester United have reportedly placed Delap high on their list of targets, which also includes Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. Chelsea, known for their strategy of acquiring young talent on performance-based contracts, are also strong contenders. They will have an upcoming opportunity to scout Delap firsthand when they host Ipswich.
Familiar Faces Could Aid Transfer Pursuit
Manchester United’s technical director, Jason Wilcox, possesses existing knowledge of Delap from his tenure at Manchester City. Chelsea also have personnel with prior connections to City, potentially providing them with an advantage in negotiations. Furthermore, Chelsea have also been monitoring Viktor Gyökeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko as alternative attacking options.
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Other Clubs Show Interest; Delap Seeks Regular Play Time
Newcastle United and Liverpool have also been linked with potential interest in Delap. Whilst Manchester City retain a buyback option for the player, it is considered unlikely they will activate it at this time. Delap’s priority is securing consistent playing time, which would be less assured at Manchester City given the presence of Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush.