Liam Delap swapped Ipswich Town for Chelsea after holding talks with Man United about a move to Old Trafford.
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Liam Delap in action for Chelsea at the Club World Cup.
Liam Delap opted for a move to Stamford Bridge.(Image: Alex Grimm/Getty Images.)
Chelsea striker Liam Delap has said the Londoners' project was what convinced him to seal a £30million move to Stamford Bridge earlier this month.
The England Under-21 international had established himself as United's top target in their search for a striker this summer after scoring a respectable 12 goals in his debut season at Ipswich Town.
Delap became available via a £30m release clause that was triggered following Ipswich's immediate relegation back to the Championship. He joined the Tractor Boys from Manchester City as last July.
The 22-year-old was a shining light in a difficult season for the Suffolk club, meaning his return of 12 Premier League goals for a relegated club was deemed a very respectable tally.
United are desperate to recruit a striker this summer and Delap held talks with them about a move to Old Trafford. However, the former Hull City loanee, who also held talks with Everton and Newcastle United, settled on a move to Chelsea.
"It was a nice position to be in, but also there are a lot of decisions you have to make," said Delap. "You never know if it is going to be the right decision.
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"You've just got to go with your gut and hopefully it works out. There are so many factors that go into it.
"I’ve got a good relationship with the manager. I know how he plays. I've played in this system before.
"I know a lot of the players here and the project of the club, how they see the future. That's what excited me."
As a result of missing out on Delap, United are yet to identify their preferred alternative target in their search for a No.9. They continue to be linked with a plethora of options, including Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon, Napoli ace Victor Osimhen and Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.
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