Manchester United’s striker search was thrown into a tailspin after Liam Delap’s rejection but the player could be regretting it more if the latest transfer developments are any indication.
Liam Delap was the clear priority target for Manchester United due to his age profile, Premier League pedigree, and most importantly, the £30 million release clause.
Naturally, that made him the target for many clubs, and ultimately, in a move that wouldn’t have impressed Ruben Amorim, he chose to join Chelsea and their European football campaign next season.
However, if Chelsea’s latest transfer decision is any indication, Delap could already be regretting his move to reject United.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Liam Delap already threatened at Chelsea
For a 22-year-old striker who has just had his breakout campaign in the top flight, the next move should have been clear.
Prioritising regular first-team football around better players to build on his breakout would have been a natural move.
Therefore, even if Delap thought United were a mess and a graveyard for talent as it stands, his second choice should have been a club like Newcastle or Everton.
However, he chose Chelsea, which is admirable to an extent because he backs himself to win over the competition, but that job just became a lot harder.
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Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reports that Chelsea are planning the next moves to secure Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, valued at €100 million.
If the negotiations are starting at that figure, Chelsea are likely to do it for close to £75 million at the very least, a figure that will make him the most expensive striker at Chelsea.
Add to that Nicolas Jackson’s already established status as the first-choice No. 9, and it becomes difficult to see where £30 million Delap fits, especially since both Jackson and Ekitike are young players.
Meanwhile, he would have been the undisputed first-choice at Old Trafford, surrounded by new and fearsome attacking additions like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, with Bruno Fernandes also staying.
Man Utd’s blessing in disguise with Delap
There were questions over Delap’s readiness even before he had made the decision to join Chelsea but after it became official, they can be said out loud.
Much like Hojlund, he’s also young and exciting but raw at the same time. United need proven goal scorers, even if they are not natural strikers, hence the chase for Cunha and Mbeumo.
In fact, Delap’s rejection could be a boost for United since it will force them to look at more established striker options and be more ruthless in sales.
Delap for £30 million would have been good value, but United are not in a position to take another low-fee punt on a young player at a position that is crying out for proven quality.
His rejection could age to be a blessing in disguise for United, and a regret for him.