Liam Delap of Ipswich Town
Liam Delap of Ipswich Town (Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Newcastle United have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Liam Delap as Manchester United have reportedly agreed "the framework" of a deal to sign the Ipswich Town forward.
The 22-year-old is being courted by the likes of Newcastle, Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea and will be available for £30m following the Tractor Boys' relegation to the Championship.
Before Ipswich's final game of the season against West Ham United on Sunday, the relegated club's manager, Kieran McKenna, revealed Delap had been granted permission to speak to potential suitors about a move away from Portman Road this summer.
Unfortunately for the Magpies, though, it looks as if they could miss out on a deal for Delap as ESPN reports that United have agreed on the structure of a deal for Delap, and now are waiting to hear if the England youth international wants to move to Old Trafford.
After qualifying for the Champions League on Sunday, Eddie Howe warned that Newcastle cannot afford to stand still in the transfer market this summer.
Asked by the Chronicle about the conversations he had with sporting director Paul Mitchell ahead of the transfer window opening next month, Howe said: "Yeah, speed is key for us. I have reiterated that many times internally - speed is key.
"We have to be dynamic and ready to conclude things very, very quickly. Because good players don't hang around for long.
"That has always been my thought and my message on recruitment. You can have a period where you think you have time and then you can look around very quickly and realise that time has elapsed and you have missed opportunities that you can't get.
"We will be trying. The reality of that is not always in your hands - we will be doing our best to do things early."
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