Both the Blues and Red Devils want Delap in their squad this summer.
Manchester United’s planning for the upcoming summer transfer window is already well underway, with those in charge of the duties aware that the team need serious restructuring in a number of areas. After a campaign full of disappointments, the club’s top brass are looking for immediate solutions to raise performance and reduce reliance on inconsistent stars.
Priorities include reinforcing the midfield, improving the defensive line and, above all, signing a striker with clinical goal-scoring ability and physicality. While names such as Matheus Cunha and Jonathan David are being bandied about, there are other young players who have gained traction due to their recent performances and profiles.
Chelsea are ready to increase their offer for Manchester United target Liam Delap
One such name is Liam Delap, who has emerged as a firm target for both Manchester United and Chelsea. The England striker has attracted attention for his ability to lead the line decisively, combining strength with reading the game. Simon Phillips reports that Chelsea are ready to present a new contract offer, tailored to the player’s expectations, while Old Trafford believe they could convince him with the idea of an important role in the new project.
Delap, for his part, is not ruling out any possibility, although he is attracted by life in Manchester. Still, no decision seems imminent, and all indications are that the tug-of-war between the two clubs will continue in the coming weeks. The English striker has a release clause of £30 million in his contract.
Will Chelsea snatch away Liam Delap from the hands of Manchester United?
Will Chelsea snatch away Liam Delap from the hands of Manchester United?
The scenario points to a close contest. Chelsea, with their need to find a striker who can make a difference from the first minute, has solid arguments: a young project, a committed coach and a clear space in the squad. Manchester United, on the other hand, offer history, pressure and a chance for sporting redemption.
But if the Red Devils fail to qualify for Europe, they will lose a lot of negotiating weight. That is a critical difference. Delap, not yet established at a top club, needs minutes, confidence and continuity. United cannot guarantee that with their current structural chaos. Chelsea do have a real opening.
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If United fail to sign him, they should focus their efforts on another young profile, perhaps Hugo Ekitike, who has been tracked by the club before. But above all, they should avoid spending money on names by reputation and focus on proper solutions with a real plan. Because what is missing at Old Trafford is not talent, but structure.
From another angle, this scramble for Delap reflects the void in the market for young English strikers. With Harry Kane ageing, having settled at Bayern, and few alternatives at the elite level, these cases become strategic issues. That is why both Chelsea and United are looking not just for a striker, but for a future benchmark. In that context, Delap becomes more than just a gamble. He represents an investment of identity. And although many might underestimate this move, for both clubs it could be decisive in the reconstruction they are trying to build.