Man Utd ‘favourites’ to sign £30m star as Arsenal make surprising transfer decision
Manchester United believe they are leading the transfer race (Picture: Getty) Manchester United are ‘favourites’ to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap this summer after Arsenal made a surprising transfer decision. A number of top clubs have expressed interest in signing Delap, who has hit double digits in the Premier League this season. Delap’s productivity in front of goal is even more impressive given he is plying his trade for the third-worst team in the English top-flight. Ipswich have won just four of their 32 league games this season and look set to be relegated before the end of the month along with Leicester City and Southampton. Once Ipswich’s relegation to the Championship is confirmed, clubs can sign Delap for just £30m due to a clause in his contract. Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. Delap’s surprisingly low buy-out clause has excited a number of interested clubs, with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham eyeing summer moves. According to the Daily Mail, Man United are ‘favourites’ to sign Delay ahead of their Premier League rivals despite another difficult season for the Red Devils. Liam Delap will leave Ipswich Town this summer (Picture: Getty) United are only four places above Ipswich Town in the Premier League table having won just ten of their 32 league games. Despite their dismal league form, Manchester United appear to be leading the race to sign Delap, formerly of Manchester City before his departure from the Etihad Stadium last summer. There remains the possibility that United miss out on Delap, however, with ‘extensive interest’ from Spain and Germany as well as almost every team in the Premier League. Liam Delap 2024-25 stats Club: Ipswich TownAge: 22Games: 31Goals: 12Assists: 2 In fact, it is claimed Arsenal are the only English top-flight club ‘not chasing’ Delap despite their obvious need for a new striker. Mikel Arteta wanted to welcome a new goalscorer to the Emirates Stadium in January but failed, with Arsenal’s bid for Ollie Watkins rejected by Aston Villa. Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko, Victor Osimhen and Delap have all been linked with summer moves to Arsenal but the club have reportedly gone cold on Delap and have decided to look elsewhere for attacking reinforcements. Ruben Amorim is set to welcome a new striker to Old Trafford (Picture: Getty) Arsenal will have a significant transfer kitty following their subdued January window but it remains to be seen how much Amorim is given to improve his struggling United squad. Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer, believes Manchester United ‘desperately’ need to sign a new striker, goalkeeper and central midfielder. ‘For them to go forwards in terms of recruitment, everything relies on winning the Europa League and getting back in the Champions League,’ Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast. Delap in action against Manchester United (Picture: Getty) ‘We know Ruben Amorim has got a huge job on his hands, it’s going to take a lot of time and a lot of money to fix that football club. They need to stick with him. They’ve made their decision. ‘He needs two or three transfer windows because they’re in desperate need of a centre forward, they’re in desperate need of a goalkeeper, they’re in desperate need of some legs in midfield. ‘It’s a huge job so you need to stick with him. But he is asking players to do something they can’t do, they’re really struggling.’ Manchester United’s decision to sign a new striker does not reflect well on £72m signing Rasmus Hojlund, who has endured a dismal season and looks set to be moved on this summer. Liam Delap ‘not ready’ for Man Utd Liverpool legend and former Match of the Day pundit Mark Lawrenson doubts Delap is ‘ready’ for a move to a club the size of Manchester United. ‘Manchester United shouldn’t go for Liam Delap because it is too early for him to make the step up,’ he told Paddy Power. ‘If he comes to Old Trafford and is expected to be the main scorer, that just isn’t going to work. ‘For me, Delap should go to another club first, as I believe he’s not ready to play for any of the big boys yet. ‘Despite him doing well at Ipswich Town this season, it’s such a different level playing at a club like Manchester United. When you have the expectation of scoring every week, the pressure is too much for some. ‘He’s a good player and is going to be a top striker, but I just don’t think he’s ready for that big step yet.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Manchester United are ‘favourites’ to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap this summer after Arsenal made a surprising transfer decision.
A number of top clubs have expressed interest in signing Delap, who has hit double digits in the Premier League this season.
Delap’s productivity in front of goal is even more impressive given he is plying his trade for the third-worst team in the English top-flight.
Ipswich have won just four of their 32 league games this season and look set to be relegated before the end of the month along with Leicester City and Southampton.
Once Ipswich’s relegation to the Championship is confirmed, clubs can sign Delap for just £30m due to a clause in his contract.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
Delap’s surprisingly low buy-out clause has excited a number of interested clubs, with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham eyeing summer moves.
According to the Daily Mail, Man United are ‘favourites’ to sign Delay ahead of their Premier League rivals despite another difficult season for the Red Devils.
United are only four places above Ipswich Town in the Premier League table having won just ten of their 32 league games.
Despite their dismal league form, Manchester United appear to be leading the race to sign Delap, formerly of Manchester City before his departure from the Etihad Stadium last summer.
There remains the possibility that United miss out on Delap, however, with ‘extensive interest’ from Spain and Germany as well as almost every team in the Premier League.
Liam Delap 2024-25 stats
Club: Ipswich Town
Age: 22
Games: 31
Goals: 12
Assists: 2
In fact, it is claimed Arsenal are the only English top-flight club ‘not chasing’ Delap despite their obvious need for a new striker.
Mikel Arteta wanted to welcome a new goalscorer to the Emirates Stadium in January but failed, with Arsenal’s bid for Ollie Watkins rejected by Aston Villa.
Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko, Victor Osimhen and Delap have all been linked with summer moves to Arsenal but the club have reportedly gone cold on Delap and have decided to look elsewhere for attacking reinforcements.
Arsenal will have a significant transfer kitty following their subdued January window but it remains to be seen how much Amorim is given to improve his struggling United squad.
Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer, believes Manchester United ‘desperately’ need to sign a new striker, goalkeeper and central midfielder.
‘For them to go forwards in terms of recruitment, everything relies on winning the Europa League and getting back in the Champions League,’ Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast.
‘We know Ruben Amorim has got a huge job on his hands, it’s going to take a lot of time and a lot of money to fix that football club. They need to stick with him. They’ve made their decision.
‘He needs two or three transfer windows because they’re in desperate need of a centre forward, they’re in desperate need of a goalkeeper, they’re in desperate need of some legs in midfield.
‘It’s a huge job so you need to stick with him. But he is asking players to do something they can’t do, they’re really struggling.’
Manchester United’s decision to sign a new striker does not reflect well on £72m signing Rasmus Hojlund, who has endured a dismal season and looks set to be moved on this summer.
Liam Delap ‘not ready’ for Man Utd
Liverpool legend and former Match of the Day pundit Mark Lawrenson doubts Delap is ‘ready’ for a move to a club the size of Manchester United.
‘Manchester United shouldn’t go for Liam Delap because it is too early for him to make the step up,’ he told Paddy Power. ‘If he comes to Old Trafford and is expected to be the main scorer, that just isn’t going to work.
‘For me, Delap should go to another club first, as I believe he’s not ready to play for any of the big boys yet.
‘Despite him doing well at Ipswich Town this season, it’s such a different level playing at a club like Manchester United. When you have the expectation of scoring every week, the pressure is too much for some.
‘He’s a good player and is going to be a top striker, but I just don’t think he’s ready for that big step yet.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
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