Liam Delap makes decision on joining Man Utd or Chelsea this summer
Delap can leave Ipswich for £30m this summer.
Chelsea believe they have beaten Manchester United to the signing of Ipswich Town star Liam Delap.
The 22-year-old striker enjoyed a breakout campaign with the Tractor Boys and while his 12 Premier League goals weren’t enough to save the club from relegation, his stock has risen considerably over the course of the season.
Delap’s release clause dropped to just E30million following confirmation of Ipswich’s relegation with United, Chelsea and Arsenal among the clubs battling for his signature.
United have made signing a new centre forward a top priority following their woeful form in front of goal this season, with only Everton and the three relegated clubs scoring less than them in the league..
Delap has emerged as their first choice with the club likely to be priced out of a move for Viktor Gyokeres.
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United’s technical director Jason Wilcox is also a huge admirer of the player he previously worked with at Manchester City.
Delap also has a previous relationship with Chelsea’s current recruitment director Joe Shields, who played a key role in the striker’s move from Derby to City in 2019.
Enzo Maresca was also Delap’s academy coach at City with The Sun reporting the England Under-21 international favours a reunion with the Italian at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have been eager to strengthen up top with Nicolas Jackson their only natural senior centre forward.
Arsenal are also eager to bring in another option up top with Gyokeres and RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko among their shortlist of options.
While Delap for £30million could represent the best deal for Arsenal and new sporting director Andre Berta, club legend Ian Wright feels a more established option is needed.
‘This summer, with Andrea Berta at the helm, we’ll see what he does. I think it’s going to be a massive summer,’ Wright said.
‘What we can’t afford to do it take a chance.
‘You might buy a [Darwin] Nunez or a [Rasmus] Hojlund… I don’t think can Arsenal can afford to pay that much money and they don’t have a return.
‘That’s why it’s so difficult to find that player. Those two players, they played a lot of money for potential and we have to go to that next place. That’s going to cost us.’
