Paul Robinson doesn’t believe Manchester City will make a move for Ipswich striker Liam Delap, effectively clearing the path for Tottenham to complete a transfer.
Delap has been in fine form for the Tractor Boys following his summer arrival — and their promotion from the Championship — scoring six goals in 14 Premier League appearances.
The 21-year-old put in a starring performance as Ipswich beat Spurs away last month, scoring one goal and assisting the other in a 2-1 victory.
Delap’s form has alerted some of the Premier League big guns, with Spurs reportedly leading a pack including Manchester United and Arsenal in a January race.
Paul Robinson gives promising Liam Delap update
(Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
More recently, Man City have also been linked with the striker, who is a product of their youth system despite only making six senior appearances in sky blue. It remains unclear whether or not City retain a buyback option, but it’s highly likely they do.
But former Tottenham goalkeeper Robinson — who remains well-connected within the club — doesn’t think Delap will return to City, with that particular deal making little sense for the player or the club’s FFP situation.
“He’s [Liam Delap] only just signed this season and started playing. It’s just a deal that’s not going to happen, you’ve seen Cole Palmer go, that’s the thing with Manchester City’s younger players,” Robinson told Football Insider (via Spurs Web).
“They’re not afraid to let the younger players go out, they realize that they’ve got to play football they also realize about the FFP and PSR situation. To bring him back it’s almost admitting that you got it wrong.”
Given how much Spurs spent on Dominic Solanke in the summer, it would be a surprise for some to see Spurs move for another striker in January.
However, Solanke only has six goals in 17 appearances across all competitions so far, with his season disrupted by minor injuries.
What’s more, the likes of Son Heung-min and Richarlison have also struggled for fitness this campaign, leaving Ange Postecoglou surprisingly light of numbers in attacking areas.