Juventus have set their sights on reported Chelsea and Manchester United target Liam Delap as a potential successor to Dusan Vlahovic.
Despite the Old Lady's efforts to secure their Serbian striker with a new, enhanced contract, negotiations have yet to yield results. His current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026.
However, the Mirror reports that Juventus are preparing for all eventualities and have shown strong interest in former Manchester City youth player Delap.
In fact, they dispatched scouts to Portman Road last weekend to observe the 21-year-old in action against Manchester United. If Vlahovic does not agree to a new contract by the end of the season, he could be sold next summer to avoid losing him on a free transfer.
Chelsea and United are also keeping tabs on Delap's development, while City have a buy-back clause and negotiated a 20% sell-on when they sold the forward to Ipswich for £20million in July. Blues manager Enzo Maresca and co-director of recruitment and talent Joe Shields are familiar with Delap from their time at City.
Earlier this week, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna downplayed talk about the forward's future, particularly regarding City's buy-back clause.
"It's not anything I'm aware of or interested in to be honest," he said. "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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Cole Palmer of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's second goal from the penalty spot with team mate Jadon Sancho during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Stamford Bridge on September 28, 2024
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