Lee Hendrie believes Arsenal would be the best club to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town amid Chelsea and Manchester United interest.
It was reported by Ben Jacobs earlier this week that the Blues are optimistic of winning the race to the forward’s signature amid competition from Ruben Amorim’s side.
A decision over his future is expected this week, with the player having a relegation release clause in his contract worth £30 million, via the Guardian.
Delap signed for Ipswich last summer from Manchester City, and scored 12 times for the team as they finished 19th in the table under Kieran McKenna.
Lee Hendrie gives Liam Delap transfer verdict
Ipswich Town's Liam Delap
Hendrie believes that Chelsea could be a good next destination for Delap, but he is slightly concerned about his potential game time.
He’s claimed that Arsenal would be a better landing spot for the 22-year-old given how much Mikel Arteta’s side need a striker this summer.
“Obviously being heavily linked with a lot of football clubs and Chelsea being one of them,” Hendrie exclusively told Football League World.
“I think, to be honest, I think with the way Chelsea work and the way that the club has gone for quite some time, there’s no doubt that they are on the up and that they have had a platform where they’ve brought a lot of players in and obviously they’ve shipped a lot out as well.
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“But I think if Liam Delap goes there, I’m pretty sure that all the clubs will be sniffing around him, I personally think he should go to Arsenal because they’re desperate for a centre-forward.
“He’s young, they’re probably get him for decent money, he’s got a release clause in his contract, so for me I’d be swaying towards Arsenal.
“Listen, Chelsea are a fantastic football club and they’re probably in need of an out-and-out striker, I don’t feel they’ve had one for quite some time.
Liam Delap's stats 2024/25 - per Fbref.com
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Non-penalty goals
Non-penalty expected goals (npxG)
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“He might be just the difference.
“But my only concern there is if he is going to the game time he has done this season, and that’s why people are talking about him.
“That would be my only concern personally.”
Ipswich were unable to survive in the Premier League last season, but Delap’s performances still managed to stand out despite their 19th place finish.
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna
Arsenal and Chelsea are both better options for Delap than Man United
Arsenal will be looking to improve their firepower this summer in order to bridge the gap to Liverpool after coming second in the table for a third consecutive season, so he is an option they could push for.
Chelsea will also want some attacking depth now that they’ll be competing in the Champions League next year and Nicolas Jackson is their only real option to lead the line.
It’s unlikely he’d be a nailed on starter at either club, but they’ll be fighting for silverware and will offer him the chance to develop and become a top player.
Meanwhile, multiple young players have moved to Old Trafford lately and struggled, most notably Rasmus Hojlund, so the Ipswich forward would be better off avoiding Amorim’s side for the time being when a move to Chelsea is on offer.