Chelsea told £30m transfer target is ‘nailed on’ to sign for Man Utd

Troy Deeney reckons Chelsea are fighting a losing battle in their transfer pursuit of Ipswich striker Liam Delap amid interest from Manchester United.

Delap, who joined Ipswich in a £20 million deal from Manchester City last year, has impressed in his maiden season in the Premier League with 12 goals so far this season.

Despite his exploits, however, Kieran McKenna’s side look destined to return to the Championship given they sit 12 points adrift of safety with just seven games remaining.

Relegation for Ipswich would activate a £30m release clause in Delap’s contract which will likely garner interest from a host of top clubs.

Chelsea and United have Delap on their striker shortlist ahead of the summer transfer window, while Arsenal may also consider a move as they resume their search for a natural goalscorer to lead Mikel Arteta’s front line.

The Blues have been repeatedly linked with a move for another striker in the summer after Nicolas Jackson’s hamstring injury exposed their lack of depth at the top of the pitch.

But former Watford striker Deeney doubts the west London club will be able to land Delap this summer and suggested the 22-year-old Englishman instead set his sights on a move to Old Trafford.

‘He has to play [to get into England squad] right?’ Deeney said on talkSPORT as he talked up Delap’s potential.

‘So his next step, if I was advising him, would be to go where you would play.

‘Man United, it’s nailed on. If he went to Man United, he’d start every week. He’d instantly make them better.’

Asked about Delap’s progression this season, Deeney did urge caution, however, saying: ‘He can be whatever he wants – he has everything. I think, at the moment, my biggest concern is his temperament, he gets caught up in trying to prove his physicality.

‘I remember watching him up against Everton earlier on in the season and (James) Tarkowski gave him a little bit and the rest of the game he was out of it because he just wanted to give it back. That’s a bit of immaturity but that will change as he grows.’

Delap will have his latest opportunity to impress on Sunday as Ipswich travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea.

And while Enzo Maresca said he was impressed by Delap’s exploits this season, the Italian sought to distance Chelsea from speculation linking them with a move for the striker.

‘He’s already very good,’ Maresca said of Delap. ‘I know Liam from five, six years ago. I had him for one season with Manchester City’s Under-23s so I know him quite well.

‘He’s already a good player, he’s already a very good player and he can be a top player. It depends on him but he is doing well at Ipswich and all the best to him.

‘But we also have a good nine [in Nico Jackson]. He’s doing well since we started. Unfortunately, we’ve missed him, and sometimes you need to miss players to realise how important they are for you.

‘With Nico, we are a completely different team compared to when he was injured. We are happy with Nico as our striker.’

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