Former Premier League striker Darren Bent has claimed that Manchester United could be making a mistake if they sign Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap.
The Red Devils have lacked goals all season domestically and are looking to bring in a number nine in the summer.
The youthful duo of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have so far not cut the mustard and struggled to find the back of the net with any sort of frequency.
Ruben Amorim’s side have been linked to numerous strikers but reports this week suggested that they are in pole position to sign Delap from Championship-bound Ipswich.
The Red Devils have also been looking at more experienced options such as Victor Osimhen, Viktor Gyokeres and Patrik Schick but it seems they will once again go down the path of signing a more youthful striker.
Speaking to talkSPORT (via The Metro) on the potential signing of Delap, Bent claimed “listen, I’m a big fan of his [Delap]. Watching him week in, week out, of course he’s improved so much and the confidence that he’s got in his own ability, the confidence he’s got to go up against anybody. He doesn’t care who it is, he won’t get overawed by anyone.”
Nonetheless, the former Tottenham Hotspur striker argued that you don’t really want two inexperienced strikers at the club. He argued that it “would be a little bit of a concern” to go from Ipswich, who were in the Championship last season, to Manchester United and be expected to lead the line and score the goals”.
He went on to say, “it might work. I think he’s got the confidence within himself to do it but there’s going to be dips in his form, goal droughts, and that’s where you need maybe that older statesman to learn from.”
Bent went on to state that even though Hojlund and Delap are both good players, the club would “almost be making the same mistake again” if they were to sign the young and inexperienced forward.
The 41 year old did understand why Delap may favour a move to United as he believes that Nicolas Jackson and Kai Havertz are bigger threats to a starting role at Chelsea and Arsenal than Hojlund at United.
Bent wrapped up by saying, “either way, it’s a great opportunity to go to Manchester United and it doesn’t come around often.”
Former United star Rio Ferdinand has echoed Bent’s concerns in the past and claimed that Ruben Amorim’s side would benefit from moving for a more finished product like Osimhen.
In contrast, former United keeper Ben Foster has been much more supportive of a move for Delap and claimed that the Englishman suits his old side down to the ground.
Featured image Jan Kruger via Getty Images
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