Nottingham Forest FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League
Chelsea could be set to hijack Man Utd’s deal for Ipswich Town star Liam Delap (Picture: Getty)
There is ‘growing noise’ that Chelsea have become favourites to sign Liam Delap despite his reported agreement with Manchester United.
The Ipswich striker has shined in the Premier League this season and is set to leave Portman Road after their relegation to the Championship.
Delap has a £30m release clause in his Ipswich contract and has attracted interest from a number of top-flight clubs in the summer transfer window.
It was believed that United had reached an agreement to sign Delap but there was always a risk that Chelsea could dramatically hijack the deal.
The Blues now appear to be leading the race for the 22-year-old with The Guardian reporting that noise is growing that Chelsea are now ‘favourites’.
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Delap registered 12 goals across 37 Premier League games for Ipswich in the 2024-25 campaign as the club finished second bottom in the top-flight.
Chelsea want to bring a new striker to west London to provide competition for Nicolas Jackson, with Christopher Nkunku rumoured for a summer exit.
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Joe Toth/Shutterstock (15125619ch) Liam Delap of Ipswich Town Ipswich Town v Southampton, Premier League, Football, Portman Road, Ipswich, UK - 01 Feb 2025
Liam Delap could be heading to Stamford Bridge (Picture: Shutterstock)
Former Manchester United and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard believes Delap would be a perfect fit for Chelsea.
Asked which club he would choose if he was in Delap’s shoes, Howard replied: ‘Honestly, I think Chelsea are desperate for a striker.
‘The Manchester United pull, I think for a player like him, it’s still there. Whether that feels different because he was a City player…
Bournemouth v Ipswich Town, Premier League - 02 Apr 2025
It was reported that Man Utd had agreed personal terms (Picture: Shutterstock)
‘I like the Chelsea profile, I like the young team. He goes into a young team and there’s goals there.’
Harry Redknapp has also tipped Delap for a move to west London this summer.
‘I’ve heard that Chelsea are quite hot on Liam Delap – I could see him going to Stamford Bridge this summer,’ Redknapp told BetVictor.
‘I would say Delap is an upgrade on Nicolas Jackson if Chelsea were to move for him. Jackson has shown flashes this season but hasn’t been at his best since coming back from injury.
‘Signing Delap would at least give Chelsea that option of switching it round if things aren’t going well for them in games.’
Meanwhile, Alan Shearer feels whoever ends up winning the race for Delap will have secured a ‘real bargain’.
‘Someone is going to get a real bargain in that,’ Shearer told Betfair. ‘It isn’t a lot of money for a centre-forward with big potential, like he has.’
Delap, who is the son of former Stoke City, Southampton and Republic of Ireland midfielder Rory Delap, made his professional debut for Manchester City in 2020 before he was sold to Ipswich four years later for £20m.
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