Manchester United’s summer transfer plans are facing fresh challenges as competition for top young talent intensifies across Europe.
The Red Devils continue their search for promising forwards to boost their attacking options amid a busy transfer window.
Several clubs eyeing rising stars have recently been given updates on key targets, forcing United to reassess their priorities.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
These developments come at a crucial time as the squad looks to strengthen ahead of the new season.
Clubs who were pursuing the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town are being informed that he is not moving to them, amid the England youth striker’s preference to join Chelsea, as per The Athletic.
Reports suggested United had agreed a deal with Delap, but that now appears to have fallen through.
Sources at teams including Manchester United, Newcastle United, Everton, Nottingham Forest, AC Milan and Juventus — speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships — say they are now aware he is heading elsewhere.
Subject to agreement on personal terms and the requirements of Delap’s £30million release clause being met, the 22-year-old will move to Chelsea.
Ipswich signed Delap from Manchester City, where he made just six first-team appearances, in July 2024 in a deal worth an initial £15million ($19.2m) plus an additional £5m following their promotion to the English top-flight.
Despite Ipswich’s struggles at the wrong end of the table — and subsequent relegation — Liam Delap enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, scoring 12 goals in the Premier League.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
He spent the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons across Championship loan spells at Stoke City, Preston North End and Hull City respectively, where he scored 12 goals across 70 matches.
Liam Delap, whose father Rory was played 11 times by the Republic of Ireland, has been capped up to Under-21 level for England.
Delap is capable of scoring all sorts of goals — headers, penalty-box finishes, long-range shooting — and has benefited from hours on the training ground at Ipswich with coach, Lee Grant — the former Manchester United goalkeeper — who specialises with the team’s attacking players and was once a team-mate of Delap’s father, Rory, at Stoke City.
Grant has worked closely with Delap on every aspect of his performance, including the right way to channel his physicality and unsettle opponents with his powerful build.
Even when he does not score, his combative streak makes him such a difficult opponent that it creates space for others.
The end result is a player who has established himself as a proven Premier League forward at an age when there is still scope for considerable improvement.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!