Hull City owner Acun Ilıcalı has conceded he has not asked Chelsea about the possibility of a reunion with Liam Delap.
The 23-year-old is no stranger to the Tigers having spent the 2023/24 season on loan at the club while contracted to Manchester City.
He endeared himself to the MKM Stadium faithful, registering eight goals across 32 appearances under Liam Rosenior.
Ipswich Town swooped to sign Delap on a permanent basis in the summer of 2024, later selling Delap to Chelsea a year later. It has not been plain-sailing for the forward in the capital and talk of another transfer switch is rife.
Chelsea forward Liam Delap is out of Hull City's reach.placeholder image
Chelsea forward Liam Delap is out of Hull City's reach. | Ben Whitley/PA Wire & Mike Egerton/PA Wire
Liam Delap admission made
Hull, however, were never in a position to be able to re-sign the former England youth international.
In an interview with Mail Online, Ilıcalı has claimed the wages wanted by Chelsea for a loan switch would be double the Hull’s average.
He said: “We love him and I hope he loves us but for this season, I didn’t even ask Chelsea.”
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Hull City’s transfer market challenges
Ilıcalı also outlined the challenges faced by Hull in the transfer market, with the newly-promoted Tigers unable to compete with many of their new rivals. Experienced Premier League operators, for example, are particularly difficult to acquire.
He said: “These boys don’t come easily. A good, experienced, successful player in the Premier League will have four or five options. Why should he choose a team that everybody thinks will be relegated?
Liam Delap spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Hull City, scoring eight goals across 32 appearances.placeholder image
Liam Delap spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Hull City, scoring eight goals across 32 appearances. | Bruce Rollinson
“It is easy to say, ‘Get the Premier League boys and be safe’. But most of the boys you can bring from the Premier League will not be wanted by their club, so you will not be able to take the shiny ones. Manchester United or City will take those shiny ones, but they will not come to us.
“So instead of Premier League players past the top of their careers, I go for those who have the dream of playing in the Premier League - boys who want to play in the best league in the world.”