Ipswich Town will give George Hirst his chance to thrive in the Championship after cashing in on Liam Delap.
The £30million release clause written into highly-rated striker Delap's contract is expected to be activated the minute the window opens.
Delap Exit to Benefit Hirst Ahead of Next Term
Frontman will be handed opportunity to make position his own
George Hirst in action for Ipswich Town
The merry-go-round for Delap's signature begins on June 1, with suitors already lining up to take the former Manchester City academy product.
Manchester United and Chelsea are jostling for position in the hunt for a frontman who netted 12 times in the Premier League this season.
They will fight it out during the week leading up to a window that opens at the start of next month, which is punctuated by a week-long gap ten days later to allow for the Club World Cup to take place.
But Nottingham Forest cannot be ruled out as a potential destination for the 22-year-old. The upwardly-mobile East Midlands club will be in the market for a strong frontrunner to help ease Chris Wood’s burden up front.
The Tricky Trees' qualification for the UEFA Conference League will add to the workload and Wood will be 34 in December, leaving a potential space for a top-quality addition.
All of that will leave boss Kieran McKenna short - but he has made the key decision to resist calls to source a direct replacement. He will turn instead to Hirst, who will finally be given the chance to lead the line in his own right.
Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap and Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim Related
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The Scotland international has played in the second tier before - both with Blackburn Rovers and the Tractor Boys. However, after a lengthy apprenticeship, it has been decided that Hirst will get his opportunity.
McKenna is likely to strengthen in forward areas following Delap’s exit - with a younger recruit - potentially from a Premier League club. But Hirst is being seen as the main man charged with firing Ipswich back into the big-time.
All statistics courtesy of Sofascore - correct as of 28/05/2025
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