Troy Deeney says Liam Delap is ‘missing a step in his development’ by opting to join CHELSEA over Manchester United after the Blues made the decision to get a £30 million transfer deal done
Ipswich won just four of their 38 league games but a difficult return to the English top-flight did not prevent Delap from impressing with 12 goals.
It was reported last week that Delap had agreed personal terms with United, who in turn had informed Ipswich of their desire to meet his release clause, But while Delap verbally agreed terms with Manchester United, who endured a miserable season, he was still to make a final decision over his next club.
According to talkSPORT, Delap has now ‘given the green light’ to Chelsea and is closing in on a switch to Stamford Bridge as he would prefer to make the move to the Blues as he would like to play Champions League football next season.
Reacting to the latest rumours on talkSPORT, ex-Watford striker Deeney argued that a switch to Old Trafford may have made more sense for Delap’s development: ‘I think, personally, when I just look at his development, I thought Manchester United was a perfect fit,’ Deeney said.
‘The jump from Under-23s football, he’s had a couple of loans and some were okay, some weren’t okay.
‘But then he goes to Ipswich and has a solid season, I wouldn’t say it was exceptional. In the second half of the season he wasn’t great.
‘The second they got relegated, he didn’t play. Whether that’s a manager’s decision looking forward or whatever… but I think he’s got so much more of his game that he still needs to develop.
‘Going to Manchester United at this stage of his career, where they are, he would have had to deal with the big experience, being the man to take them to the next level, then he would be ready for Europe.
‘I think he’s missing a step in his development [by joining *CHELSEA*].’
Quizzed on whether Delap could be the man to finish Chelsea’s chances and take the club forward, Deeney responded: ‘I don’t know, yet to be seen.
‘I think he’s a good finisher, I don’t know if he’s a great finisher. You’ve had the likes of Higuain come in at Chelsea and it’s a different, heavy shirt to wear than doing it at Ipswich.
‘I think he can do it. I just think in an ideal world he would have one more step and then he would have gone into the Champions League.’
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