Manchester United are in the process of a major overhaul this summer with plenty of ingoings and outgoings, and one potential signing could be handed his dream shirt number from the off
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Liam Delap.
Liam Delap is likely to be on the move this summer(Image: Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Liam Delap could get his hands on the number 19 shirt at Manchester United following Raphael Varane's exit and subsequent retirement in 2024. The Red Devils are at the beginning of a major squad turnover this summer, with current manager Ruben Amorim planning to "improve the team we have" from the starting eleven all the way through to the academy.
One star that Amorim is reportedly keen to bring in is Ipswich Town striker Delap. He is likely to appear in the transfer market this summer following the club's relegation at the end of the 2024/25 season.
The 22-year-old scored 12 goals and assisted twice in his most recent campaign and is available for £30million due to a relegation clause written into Delap's contract with Ipswich.
Delap has reportedly been in contact with several clubs, including Chelsea, Everton, Newcastle and United, ahead of the transfer window opening.
The Red Devils are said to have agreed to the framework of a deal for the young attacker, including an outline of personal terms with Delap's agents. While other Premier League sides are interested in his services, United could sway Delap towards Old Trafford by offering him a sweetener in the form of his chosen shirt number.
Liam Delap.
Liam Delap seems to prefer the number 19 on his back while playing
Across his professional career, Delap has opted for the number 19 while representing Ipswich in the Premier League and also during his international career with England's youth squads. Other digits used include 20 with Hull City and seven with Preston North End, but he has seemingly settled on 19 as his preferred squad number for the future.
And United are in luck, as this shirt is currently available on the list of vacancies in their squad. The number 19 was most recently used by high-profile signing Varane, who exited the squad for Como in last year's summer transfer window before retiring just weeks later in September 2024.
Before his exit last summer, Varane was one of the highest earners in United's team, with the Mail reporting that the Frenchman was earning up to £350,000-a-week since signing a contract in 2021.
Raphael Varane.
Raphael Varane was the latest star to don number 19 for United
Other players who utilised the same number as Varane in the past include current United star Amad Diallo and out-of-favour forward Marcus Rashford.
However, it seems like Amorim is going for a more modest squad ahead of the 2025/26 season after their humiliating Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Speaking ahead of United's preseason tour through Malaysia and Hong Kong, the Red Devils boss has admitted that the club had two plans based on what went down in Bilbao earlier in May. He said: "We always prepare two plans.
Liam Delap.
Liam Delap could be joining Manchester United this summer
"With and without the Champions League. Without the Champions League, we also don't need a big squad. We can control the squad in a better way. Then we have a plan, that is to bring in some new players, but our big plan is to improve the team we have, to improve the Academy.
"It was the past, so it can be the future. It can't change much because of Financial Fair Play, we are not allowed to do much, even with the Champions League, so we are prepared."
Following the 1-0 loss to Spurs that cemented trophyless United's exit from European football for the upcoming campaign, Amorim insists that his team will take their lessons from previous games and look to move forward as soon as possible.
Ruben Amorim.
Ruben Amorim is aiming for a more successful season in 2025/26
He added: "It was important to finish the season, we needed to close that chapter. It's not fully behind us because I have one row of English journalists waiting for the hard questions, so I will rest from that when we finish the tour.
"To tell you the truth, I closed that chapter, I'm excited, I'm nervous, I want to work to the next season, I don't have that feeling that I need to disconnect, I had the feeling to close the season, but now it's a new season, so I am excited at the same moment.
"So, I don't need rest, I just need to prepare for the next season."
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