“The perfect addition” – Stoke City fan pundit reacts as Potters on verge of securing Man City transfer deal | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Stoke City are set to bolster their forward line even further with the addition of Manchester City starlet Liam Delap on a season-long loan deal.

As first reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Potters have won the race for the 19-year-old England youth international, who was given the green light by Pep Guardiola to head out of the Premier League champions temporarily having outgrown developmental football.

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And despite interest as well from their Championship rivals West Brom, Michael O’Neill’s side are set to secure Delap’s signature, with a medical taking place on Wednesday ahead of his arrival.

The fact that Delap’s father, ex-Stoke midfielder Rory, is on the coaching staff at the Bet365 Stadium, may have swayed the deal in their favour, and he will compete Tyrese Campbell, Jacob Brown and Dwight Gayle for a starting spot.

FLW’s Stoke fan pundit Ben Rowley has commented on Delap’s imminent signing, and considering he was high up on his own shortlist earlier in the summer, it’s fair to say that he’s a happy man.

“I was asked at the start of the summer window if there was any player that Stoke could sign this summer who would it be, and I said Liam Delap, and that is because I think he is just the perfect addition,” Ben explained.

“He’s a young, hungry player who already knows the club with his Dad having played for us, and he’s now a first-team coach here, which will have had some influence in his signing.

“Lethal he has been at youth level, a proper unit, a proper force, and I think he just gives that much-needed confidence to a Stoke forward line who have been making chances in the last few seasons, just not put away good ones, and I think Delap will have the confidence of doing that.

“It will be interesting to see how he steps up to senior football for the first time, but I think the only thing Pep said is possibly missing is his hold-up play, and if we can do what we did to Jacob Brown to Liam Delap then he will be one hell of a player by the end of this season.”

The Verdict

Having scored 32 goals in 30 appearances at Premier League 2 level in the past two years, Delap is ready-made now for senior football, following in the footsteps of another City talent in James McAtee and heading to the Championship.

Last year was spoiled with injuries for Delap, but he will be making up for lost time and more importantly, will be looking to impress Pep Guardiola whilst he’s away from the club.

There will be lots of pressure on his shoulders, but his arrival means that he’s competing with, on their best day, three very good goalscorers in Brown, Campbell and Gayle.

This could be one of the most exciting acquisitions of the summer and it could be one that helps fire the Potters up the Championship table after a slow start.