Man Utd in ‘discussions’ over summer move for PL striker available for £40m
Manchester United have held more discussions internally over a move for Ipswich striker Liam Delap ahead of the summer transfer window, according to the Daily Mail.
The Red Devils are looking to strengthen in attack for next season, with both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee failing to impress in the 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest last night, and the England under-21 international has emerged as a summer transfer target.
Delap has ten goals and two assists in 28 Premier League games so far in 2024-25, more than the six goals the aforementioned Man United striking duo have scored, and he has a release clause in the region of £40 million if Ipswich are relegated.
The Old Trafford club are ready to sell the likes of Antony, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho to fund a move for a striker, and landing Delap could be more appealing to them given his price tag when compared to other targets in the position.
However, Man United will face competition from the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United for the 22-year-old, while his old club Manchester City can activate their buyback option.
They could have an upper hand in the pursuit of the Englishman as their technical director Jason Wilcox knows Delap well from his time at Man City’s academy.
The Red Devils are 13th in the Premier League table after 30 games, and they face Man City next, with a defeat likely to all but end their chances of qualifying directly for Europe next season.
They are in dire need of a quality number 9 capable of delivering the goods consistently if they want to start challenging for major trophies anytime soon, and Delap fits the bill having proven himself at a struggling club.
The Tractor Boys are currently 18th in the table, 12 points off safety, and an immediate return to the Championship is on the cards, which would give Man United and other suitors the opportunity to land him in the coming months.
Article written by Alani .