Liam Delap holds talks with Man United and will also meet Premier League rival
Liam Delap has held talks with Manchester United ahead of a potential £30million move, talkSPORT understands.
But United have competition from Chelsea, who are also set to meet with the Ipswich forward.
Delap is leaning towards a move to United over Chelsea this summer
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Delap is leaning towards a move to United over Chelsea this summerCredit: Getty
Former Manchester City youngster Delap, who has scored 12 Premier League goals this season, is said to be keen to return to the North West.
United’s pursuit of the England under-21 ace, will be further boosted if they beat Tottenham in next week’s Europa League final and qualify for the Champions League.
The Red Devils face Spurs in Bilbao on May 21 in their final opportunity to secure European qualification for next season.
Delap is said to be keen on playing Champions League football and previously spent five years with City before his move to Portman Road last summer.
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Despite the Tractor Boys’ relegation this term, the forward has stood out with his performances for Kieran McKenna’s side.
As well as his 12 league goals, Delap has also chipped in with two assists for his teammates.
Meanwhile, United’s senior strikers, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, have just seven league goals between them this term.
Ruben Amorim is set to sign Wolves forward Matheus Cunha in the summer, while the Red Devils have also joined the race with Arsenal to sign Viktor Gyokeres.
Troy Deeney previously urged Delap to make the switch to Old Trafford to boost his chances of a senior England call-up.
The talkSPORT co-host explained last month: “He has to play [to get into England squad] right?
Delap has been a shining star for Ipswich this season
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Delap has been a shining star for Ipswich this season
“So his next step would be, if I was advising him, would be that with Man United, it’s nailed on.
“If he went to Man United, he’d start every week. He’d instantly make them better.”
The 22-year-old has yet to be included in a senior Three Lions squad despite his form this season.
He has already scored three goals in 12 caps for the under-21s, though, since making his debut in September 2023.
Delap is expected to star for Lee Carsley’s Young Lions once again this summer.
The defending European champions will appear at the tournament in Slovakia next month.
Gabby Agbonlahor URGES Liam Delap to snub Man United as Red Devils eye him as top striker target!
Carsley’s side face the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Germany in group B.
Delap was not part of the squad which won the 2023 edition two years ago.
Liam Delap ‘makes decision’ on club he wants to sign for as Man United, Newcastle and Chelsea all interested
Luke Alfred Davies
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Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap has reportedly ‘made his choice’ with regards to which club he wants to join this summer.
Delap, 22, who is a Manchester City academy graduate, has found form in the Premier League this season, having netted 12 times for Kieran McKenna’s relegated Ipswich Town side.
As a result, he has attracted the interest of Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United and could be on the move this summer.
Ipswich’s relegation means Delap’s release clause fell to £30m – although The Guardian reports that City have a 20% sell-on clause.
Now, reports suggest that Delap is ‘leaning’ towards the idea of signing for one of the three suitors mentioned.
talkSPORT understands that the 22-year-old is “leaning towards joining Manchester United”.
If he were to make the move, he would compete with Red Devils strikers Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund for a spot in Ruben Amorim’s side.
However, Delap’s current tally of 12 league goals is more than Hojlund and Zirkzee’s combined total of seven.
Liam Delap has been linked with several clubs (Credit:Getty)
Liam Delap has been linked with several clubs (Credit:Getty)
Last week, The Athletic’s David Ornstein issued an update on the financial side of the deal.
Ornstein explained: “I understand the finances are already in place to do first-choice targets Delap and Cunha, irrespective of European football. Delap will likely take longer than Cunha to be resolved because there are so many suitors and, to our knowledge, the player has yet to decide where he wishes to continue his career. We know of Amorim’s affiliation with Gyokeres but I’m not sure yet where he will end up (Arsenal and others among the interested parties).
“There have been lots of reports on Osimhen and I’ve no doubt United most other top clubs appreciate him as a player – but for whatever reason (it seems to be his salary and whether he’s the character they’re looking for) these teams don’t seem to be advancing on that and currently I’m not expecting Man Utd to sign him.”
Last month, McKenna, who was Jose Mourinho’s assistant at United, backed his player to reach the top level and said: “Can Liam play for the biggest clubs in the country, the biggest clubs in the world? He certainly can. I fully believe that.
“He’s already shown the impact he can have at Premier League level in a team that have really been fighting for everything. I think he can have an outstanding impact at this level.”
He added: “But he’s happy and he’s developing really well here. He has the potential. I think he will, in his career, go on to do some really, really good things.”
Delap’s Ipswich contract is set to run until the summer of 2029.
