Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Chelsea are leading the race to sign Ipswich striker Liam Delap.
Premier League sides who have shown an interest in the England Under-21 international are now aware of his preference to join the Stamford Bridge club.
Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest were among the clubs to have shown a serious interest in Delap, who has a £30million release clause.
But Delap is understood to have chosen Chelsea as his first choice destination, with at least two of the aforementioned suitors believing the 22-year-old has picked the London club.
The move to Stamford Bridge is now expected to accelerate ahead of Chelsea formally triggering the player’s £30million release fee.
Chelsea, who lifted the Uefa Conference League trophy on Wednesday night, last week qualified for the Champions League which provides Delap with the chance to add to his solitary appearance in the competition with Manchester City in 2022.
Delap made 32 starts in the Premier League for Ipswich last season, scoring 12 goals.
Ipswich are interested in taking Chelsea striker Marc Guiu on loan as a replacement for Delap.