Jamie Carragher.
Jamie Carragher. (Image: Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Manchester United were hit with a transfer blow on Thursday afternoon when it was revealed Liam Delap is leaning towards joining Chelsea instead this summer.
Manchester Evening News revealed last month that Delap was United's primary target up front in the summer transfer window but they had acknowledged they would face competition.
The England under-21 international's £30million release clause made the 12-goal forward one of the most attractive propositions in the summer transfer window.
Newcastle United and Everton were also said to be among the 22-year-old's suitors but it is Chelsea he has chosen and his move from Ipswich Town is expected to be signed and sealed in the coming days.
It is a blow for United who now must look elsewhere in their search for goals, which were severely lacking in the Premier League from both Rasmus Hojlund (four) and Joshua Zirkzee (three) this season.
Both forwards are still young and both clearly struggled with the weight of expectation of being United's main forward.
It is a problem Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher alluded to when discussing United's interest in Delap, as he warned the Ipswich youngster off making the move to Old Trafford.
"I don’t think Delap should go to Man United," Carragher told Sky Sports.
"What happened to [Rasmus] Hojlund, sometimes when you’re going from a team who have been relegated - I know Man United are 16th, but they are one of the biggest teams in the world, with the eyes and ears on them.
"I think that’s such a big step. I know people might say it’s not in terms of league position, but Man United are a monster."
Carragher's right. United are a monster - even if they are coming off the back of their worst ever Premier League campaign.
And that is the issue staring United in the face this summer. How do they convince new recruits to sign for the club without the allure of European football but with the weight of history still firmly around their necks?
It takes a special kind of character to play for United but even then, if there are offers from other clubs without that baggage who can offer European football, it will be hard for anyone to say no to moving elsewhere.
Delap certainly didn't and now United must quickly move to Plan B in pursuit of solving their number one transfer priority - finding a new goalscorer.