Top Premier League clubs are expected to trigger Liam Delap's £30m relegation release clause at Ipswich Town (Image: Steve Waller)
Top Premier League clubs are expected to trigger Liam Delap's £30m relegation release clause at Ipswich Town (Image: Steve Waller)
Liam Delap looks set to depart Ipswich Town this summer, but where will he end up? Alex Jones takes a look at the runners and riders in the Delap Stakes...
Delap has already met with Manchester United executives
Delap has already met with Manchester United executives (Image: PA)
Manchester United
Odds: 1/1
Widely reported to be the frontrunners in this race, Manchester United are clearly keen on signing Delap this summer and want to get things wrapped up quickly.
Last week, there were reports that the Red Devils were his first-choice pick, preferring a return to the North West. Although he is keeping his options open, The Athletic have reported that he has already met with the club’s officials, having been given permission by Ipswich to travel up to Manchester.
With Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee mis-firing, Man United are understandably looking for a new no.9, but Old Trafford doesn’t seem the best place to be at the moment.
Verdict: Delap is seemingly leaning towards joining Ruben Amorim’s side, so in my eyes, they are the most likely destination. Will it work out? It’s a lot of pressure on a young and inexperienced striker. I do worry if he goes there.
Chelsea are hoping to be back in the Champions League next season
Chelsea are hoping to be back in the Champions League next season (Image: PA)
Chelsea
Odds: 11/4
Chelsea are closing in on a return to the Champions League and are keen to bolster their forward line as a result. Nicolas Jackson, currently serving a three-match ban for a straight red card against Newcastle United, isn’t hitting the desired heights, with 10 goals and five assists this season.
Supporting him are the likes of Marc Guiu and Tyrique George, but with both players just 19, Enzo Maresca is looking for a striker with more pedigree and he knows Delap well, having worked with him at Man City, so that works in their favour. He, in their eyes, fits that profile, and Chelsea have reportedly been watching him for most of the season.
He certainly isn’t the only option that they are looking at, but Delap is expected to meet their executives before deciding on a move.
Verdict: Clearly a contender, we can’t rule out a summer move to Chelsea. There are the same concerns with Man United, however – they seemingly can’t get the best out of their strikers.
Newcastle United may look to sign a striker to support Alexander Isak
Newcastle United may look to sign a striker to support Alexander Isak (Image: PA)
Newcastle United
Odds: 8/1
Newcastle, like Chelsea, are edging closer to Champions League football. They have been remarkably strong in recent weeks, but will need to strengthen their squad to compete domestically and in Europe.
Alexander Isak is one of the in-form players in the top flight, and he will probably stay at St. James’ Park if the Magpies secure a top-five finish. Callum Wilson will probably move on, while William Osula may depart on loan.
As a result, Newcastle will surely look to sign another striker. Would Delap be happy to sit behind Isak in the pecking order? Given the positive relationship between them and Ipswich, this would be a good outcome in the eyes of the fans.
Verdict: Not impossible, but not likely. While this move could be really good for Delap, easing him into life at an elite team, he’ll surely want to be a guaranteed starter.
Ipswich are unlikely to keep Delap after relegation
Ipswich are unlikely to keep Delap after relegation
(Image: Steve Waller)
Stay at Ipswich
Odds: 12/1
There is a world in which Delap doesn’t move this summer, instead staying at Ipswich and playing in the Championship next season.
In fact, he may benefit from it. After all, his form in 2025 hasn’t been great. Dropping down to the second tier and becoming a dominant force would do his confidence a lot of good. He’d be the red-hot favourite for the Golden Boot, and Town will be expected to bounce back up with or without him.
Then, next summer, he could re-assess his options. After all, he’s only 22 and has his whole career ahead of him.
Verdict: No real chance, unfortunately. With a World Cup on the horizon, Delap will want to be playing at the highest level to catch Thomas Tuchel’s attention.
Nottingham Forest will compete in Europe next season
Nottingham Forest will compete in Europe next season (Image: PA)
Nottingham Forest
Odds: 14/1
From relegation contenders to Europe, Nottingham Forest have finally clicked in the Premier League. After finishing 17th – just six points above the bottom three – last season, they are now guaranteed at least a Europa Conference League place.
Chris Wood has been banging in the goals for them this season, with 20 to his name in 35 appearances. That being said, at 33, he’s coming into the latter stages of his career. Forest need to start planning for the future, and this is the time for them to spend big.
Stylistically, Nuno’s tactics suite Delap’s attributes, so it’s no surprise to see that they are interested in signing him. Can they guarantee him regular starts and become a more attractive proposition than a ‘big six’ club?
Verdict: I believe this would be the best move for him of all the options available, but I’m not sure I can see it happening. Perhaps if they qualify for the Champions League.
Manchester City have two strong options to lead the line
Manchester City have two strong options to lead the line (Image: PA)
Manchester City
Odds: 16/1
Could everything come full circle? Delap signed from Man City last summer for a fee of £15m. It’s understood that they had the option to buy him back from Town at a certain price, although that clause is now redundant following relegation.
There’s an obvious appeal. Pep Guardiola is one of the best managers in the history of the sport. The Cityzens have had a terrible campaign by their standards, but still look set to secure a Champions League spot. With a big rebuild likely this summer, it’s an exciting project.
However, with Erling Haaland starting and Omar Marmoush supporting him, minutes would surely be limited if Delap was to return to the Etihad Stadium. After all, that’s a big reason why he left in the first place.
Verdict: A nice idea, but no real opportunities for regular football. Very unlikely at this stage.
Arsenal are expected to sign a new striker this summer
Arsenal are expected to sign a new striker this summer (Image: PA)
Arsenal
Odds: 16/1
Another second-place finish secured, Arsenal are desperate to take the next step. They have fallen just short in the Premier League and the Champions League, but they have come a long way from the side that seemed incapable of competing for major trophies.
The Gunners have been playing without an out-and-out striker for quite a while now, with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz ruled out through injury. Midfielder Mikel Merino has been deployed up front, which has worked surprisingly well, but the club understandably want another striker this summer.
A January bid for Ollie Watkins showed their intent, but there would be real question marks about whether Delap is ready to start for a team aiming to be the best in Europe.
Verdict: If he was to be a starter at the Emirates Stadium, a move like this would be too much of a jump, and I don’t think he’d be happy as a substitute.
Liverpool will lift the Premier League title this weekend
Liverpool will lift the Premier League title this weekend (Image: PA)
Liverpool
Odds: 20/1
Premier League title winners, Liverpool are looking to go again. Manager Arne Slot is expecting a busy summer, with full-backs Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen) and Milos Kerkez (Liverpool) set to join.
The Reds have a fluid attacking system, often playing without a natural no.9. They do have Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, but the former has injury issues while the latter will probably depart Anfield this summer.
The odds of Delap starting for Liverpool next season are slim, but they may be keen to sign him as Nunez’s replacement. Would that tempt him to move to Merseyside?
Verdict: Like Arsenal, Liverpool isn’t the place for Delap to start week in, week out, and he’ll probably prefer to be the main man somewhere else rather than a substitute in L4.
Borussia Dortmund are the only foreign club to be linked with a move for Delap
Borussia Dortmund are the only foreign club to be linked with a move for Delap
(Image: PA)
Move abroad
Odds: N/A
At the time of writing, Bet365 don’t provide odds for Delap to leave the Premier League this summer, but it can't be completely ruled out.
Borussia Dortmund were linked with a move a few weeks ago, having previously developed talented English youngsters like Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham. Delap would surely love to follow in their footsteps, and with Harry Kane at Bayern Munich, there’s a nice Bundesliga narrative.
Whether any other foreign clubs come in for him remains to be seen. A different culture in a different country will appeal to many players.
Verdict: With interest from top Premier League sides, I can’t see Delap heading abroad at this stage in his career.
Delap will have eyes on a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for next summer's World Cup
Delap will have eyes on a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for next summer's World Cup (Image: PA)
Conclusion
Where I think Delap should go and where I think he'll end up are two different things.
As Jamie Carragher said on Monday Night Football earlier this week, I think Delap is better to avoid a top-six club. There are sides who don't have the sky-high expectations but are still playing in Europe, like Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and even Crystal Palace.
Granted, all three of those teams have established, first-choice strikers, but I believe he needs that competition to push him on. Wood, as mentioned, isn't getting any younger. Isak's aspirations will probably take him away from St. James' Park.
There's a platform for Delap to join one of these teams and make a sizeable yet manageable step up. Personally, I think Forest would be he perfect fit, and if I was advising him, I'd tell him to move to the City Ground.
I do, however, believe that he'll end up at Man United. Amorim seems ready to move on from Hojlund and Zirkzee, so he'll be promised regular opportunities. For all the comments about the state of the club and their likely 16th-place finish, they are still one of the biggest in the world.
The Red Devils seem to be pushing hard for Delap and that's got to be pretty flattering. I know he wants to take time to think about his decision, but I can see this one getting wrapped up early in the transfer window. After all, he has Euro U21 to focus on in June and won't want this hanging over his head.
Ipswich Town FC
Football
Sport
Ipswich
Share
0 Comments
Get involved
with the news
Send your news & photos