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A former Man City wonderkid is the subject of interest from the team’s arch-rival Man United
Manchester City’s 2024/25 campaign went from bad to worse when it was revealed that star striker Erling Haaland would miss somewhere in the region of five to seven weeks with an ankle injury. The blow not only derails their prospects of achieving silverware in the FA Cup but also their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League after a feeble performance in both the Premier League and Europe throughout the campaign.
City fans will see the decision to sell Julian Alvarez, albeit for a hefty £82m, to Atletico Madrid as a mistake, but another star that sneaked through the Etihad doors much more quietly was Liam Delap to Ipswich Town for just £20m - a decision which, given the current state of affairs, looks like a costly one.
How Manchester City let Liam Delap slip through their fingers
Delap, son of former Stoke City long-ball specialist Rory, has brought a whole new meaning to being Delapped this season with his physicality, aerial prowess and ability causing established Premier League defenders all kinds of problems. He actually made a name for himself in the Derby County academy before being poached by Manchester City in 2019 when he was 17-years-old. He made just two league appearances for Pep Guardiola’s team and a further four in cup competitions but only scored one goal.
Delap got a taste of professional football during loan spells at Preston, Stoke City and Hull City at Championship level with his time on Humberside being the most fruitful, with eight goals in 32 matches. At the time, you’d have been forgiven for thinking £20m as a tidy profit for a player with less than double figures at Championship level. However, the warning signs that Delap could explode into life were definitely evident at Under-23 leve,l where he scored a staggering 35 in 36 appearances - numbers which even Haaland himself would be impressed with.
Delap has since scored 10 goals in 28 league games for a struggling Ipswich team while drawing comparisons by some corners to Didier Drogba for his ability to bully defenders with his physicality and his aerial presence. Crucially, he’s also managed to consistently scoring goals for a team hugely lacking in creativity.
Pep Guardiola says he is glad to see the striker doing well and has hinted that there was no hard feelings between the pair when Delap departed. He told Sky Sports News): "Many players came up from this academy. They are set up perfectly in the Premier League. When he was here, always we thought he was a typical striker for the Premier League. He's doing really well and we're happy for him."
Sky Sports News reporter Natalie Gedra also added: “There's no bad feelings (from Delap) of, 'I wish Man City had done more for me to stay there' or nothing. It's as simple as I just wanted to play.”
Could Liam Delap return to haunt Manchester City?
Mail Sport claim Manchester United are now leading the charge to sign Liam Delap this summer for a reported figure of £40m, in a move which would be a bitter pill to swallow for many City fans.
The outlet suggest the Red Devils are ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Delap, as they look for a proven goalscorer who can catapult the team up the table after a disastrous league campaign. Both big-money signings Rasmus Hoijlund and Joshua Zirkzee have failed to perform in front of goal, unable to get near the numbers Delap is putting away for a team destined for relegation.
Ipswich find themselves nine points adrift of safety after Wolves victory over West Ham and it appears highly unlikely that the Tractor Boys will be able to keep a forward of Delap’s calibre and hype with them if they drop down to the second tier. Delap has done his best to stay away commenting on the intensifying exit rumours a mark of respect to his current employers, and told Sky Sports: "I don't really look at things like that," he has said when asked about attracting transfer interest.
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"I'm just focused on Ipswich. We are lucky to be playing in the Premier League. I think we've got a great opportunity here at Ipswich and we're just trying to show our ability week in, week out, that is a big plus for me."
United are understood to be the main contenders for Delap and would likely be able to ensure the striker regular opportunities and a chance to showcase his potential to England boss Thomas Tuchel ahead of the 2026 World Cup. However, Newcastle United, Liverpool, Chelsea could all come to the table once the summer transfer window opens - or who knows, maybe City will swallow their pride and bring him back to the Etihad.
Read More: Ipswich Town sign £20m Chelsea gem and Hearts striker in £81m dream XI - if rumours are true
Related topics:Man UnitedMan CityPremier LeagueChampions LeagueErling Haaland
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