Liam Delap is attracting interest from a host of big-name clubs including Chelsea, Man Utd, old side Man City and Juventus
Juventus are eyeing Ipswich striker Liam Delap as a potential replacement for Dusan Vlahovic.
The Old Lady remain determined to tie their Serbian frontman down to a new, improved contract. His current deal expires in the summer of 2026 but so far, talks over an extension have failed to bear fruit.
However, Juve are drawing up contingency plans in case an agreement cannot be reached and the Italian giants are firm admirers of ex-Manchester City youth starlet Delap. So much so, they sent scouts to Portman Road last weekend to watch the 21-year-old in the flesh against Manchester United.
If Vlahovic fails to agree a new contract by the end of the campaign, he could be sold next summer to avoid any risk of losing the former Fiorentina marksman on a free transfer.
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Chelsea and United are also monitoring Delap's progress while City have a buy-back clause and additionally, negotiated a 20 per cent sell-on when they sold the attacker to Ipswich for £20million in July.
Blues boss Enzo Maresca and co-director of recruitment and talent Joe Shields both know Delap from their time working together at City. Speaking earlier this week, Tractor Boys boss Kieran McKenna poured cold water on discussion surrounding the forward's future, specifically talk of City's buy-back clause.
He said: "It's not anything I'm aware of or interested in to be honest. I think that's a question for other people and for [chairman] Mark Ashton. My full focus is on this season and, with regards to Liam, trying to help him to continue to improve. I know Liam's full focus is here and trying to help the team.
"He's had a good start to the season, but we have to remember that's it's very early stages for him. This is really his first season starting regularly as a number nine. He played off the side a lot of times last year at Hull, played as a wide striker in some earlier Championship loan moves.
"So this is his first season doing it week-in, week-out, maybe doing it two times a week, and he's doing it at Premier League level. It's positive that he's doing well, but it's really early days. His focus, my focus, our focus is to keep trying to improve."
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