Man United identified Liam Delap as their prime striker target and he scored 12 goals for Ipswich Town in 2024-25.
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13:16, 29 May 2025
Delap is not set to be Amad's teammate after all
Delap is not set to be Amad's teammate after all
Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap is leaning towards a move to Chelsea over Manchester United.
Delap wanted his future resolved before the European Under 21 Championship starts and the 22-year-old is believed to favour a transfer to Chelsea. United have declined to comment.
United, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Everton all held talks with Delap, who has a £30million release clause following Ipswich's relegation.
Senior figures at united expected Delap to choose between them and Chelsea, who qualified for the Champions League last week and won the Europa Conference League on Wednesday night.
The MEN reported earlier this month that United were wary that Delap was generating interest from other Premier League clubs.
Delap was identified as United’s primary striker target after they ended the Premier League season with a derisory 44 goals and a -10 goal difference.
Manchester City academy graduate Delap scored 12 Premier League goals for Ipswich last season, having signed for the club last year. Delap came through at City when United technical director Jason Wilcox was the club's academy director.
United head coach Ruben Amorim lamented the “lack of goals” in the squad once again after the club lost their first post-season tour match to the ASEAN All Stars in Kuala Lumpur.
Amorim wants to replace Rasmus Hojlund after the £72m striker mustered ten goals in 2024-25. Hojlund struggled in his 45-minute outing of the 1-0 defeat on Wednesday evening.
"Sometimes you cannot overthink the situations," Amorim said afterwards when asked about Hojlund. "Sometimes you go to holiday and then you arrive in the first day and you start a new season, even the environment in training ground can help all these players have more confidence.
"If you look at the data we improved in the last games. We have a lack of goals we will try to assess that and be prepared."
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