Manchester City will benefit from Liam Delap's imminent move to Chelsea after the striker rejected Manchester United
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Liam Delap of Ipswich Town
Liam Delap is set to join Chelsea this summer after rejecting Manchester United’s advances.
The 22-year-old caught the eye this season with 12 Premier League goals for relegated Ipswich Town and that sparked a number of clubs to enquire about the frontman.
Delap wanted his future resolved before the European Under 21 Championship starts and Chelsea have seemingly won the race for his signature, with Delap available for a cut-price £30million owing to a relegation release clause.
And his imminent move to Stamford Bridge is good news for Manchester City, who will net a substantial windfall as part of the terms of the deal that took Delap to East Anglia from the Etihad.
City sold Delap in a £20million deal a year ago which totalled an initial £15million sale and then £5million should the Tractor Boys earn promotion to the Premier League, which they did. The Blues also inserted a 20 per cent sell-on fee into the transfer.
Should the forward complete his £30million move to Chelsea then City will bank between £2m-£6m depending on whether the clause entitles them to 20 per cent of the overall sale or just the profit Ipswich make on their star forward.
The Blues did have a buy back option but with Erling Haaland signing a mammoth contract extension this season and Omar Marmoush arriving in January, a central striker is not part of City’s summer rebuild.
Delap made just six first team appearances for City. He spent time on loan in the Championship during his career at the Etihad, playing for Stoke City, Preston North End and Hill City.
He only netted 12 times across those three spells and matched that tally in his sole season at Ipswich.
Delap was last week named in the England Under-21 training squad ahead of this summer's European Under-21 Championships. The squad will be trimmed to 23 on Friday, June 6.
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