Ipswich Town face Liam Delap transfer threat as Chelsea, Newcastle development emerges | OneFootball

It has been reported that both Chelsea and Newcastle United are interested in signing Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap.

Ipswich Town will be confident of mounting another promotion challenge from the Championship next season but they are expected to have to do it without Liam Delap, with the striker subject to fresh links with both Chelsea and Newcastle United.

The Tractor Boys, under the management of Kieran McKenna, have often been competitive in the top-flight this season but have struggled to be generally effective with just four victories in their 36 matches this season.

Despite scoring just 35 goals in their 36 games this year, they have had a star striker catch the eye with Delap notching 12 goals in 33 appearances in the Premier League following his move from Manchester City last summer.

The 22-year-old was always expected to depart Portman Road if Ipswich were indeed relegated and now fresh reports suggest he could earn himself a move into the UEFA Champions League.

Chelsea and Newcastle line up Delap

According to Sky Sports, several clubs are waiting to find out their European status for next season before finalising their lists of targets and two clubs said to be keen on Delap are Chelsea and Newcastle.

It has been reported that Chelsea are monitoring Delap’s situation with a striker their priority target for next summer, whilst Newcastle are said to be keen on his signing regardless of whether the Magpies sanction the sale of Sweden international Alexander Isak.

The report also says that Eddie Howe is a long-term admirer of Delap and even tried to take him to the Vitality Stadium back in August 2020 whilst the Bournemouth manager.

It is believed that Delap has a release clause of £30 million this summer, following what was believed to be a move worth around £20 million to Suffolk in July 2024.

Delap’s impressive campaign

Other than just an impressive return on goals for a relegated and struggling side, Delap has caught the eye with his all-round performances and ability to become a nuisance for almost any defence in the Premier League.

At just 22, the Winchester-born England U21 international, has had a breakout campaign after a few loan spells in the Championship in which his performances were promising but his scoring was hardly prolific.

Now, having previously made six appearances for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, Delap is being tipped up as the heir-apparent for England captain Harry Kane in the Three Lions’ set-up.

Delap, the son of former Stoke City and Ireland international midfielder Rory, has 37 youth international caps to his name for England, scoring 15 goals.

Ipswich seem well placed to embark upon an intriguing summer transfer window ahead of next season’s Championship campaign and the sale of Delap is an expected one so may not cause too many headaches.

The Tractor Boys spent fairly heavily last summer on some of the more prized assets in the second-tier such as Delap as well as Omari Hutchinson, who had been on loan at Ipswich the previous season, Sammie Szmodics, Jacob Greaves, Dara O’Shea and Jack Clarke with Jaden Philogene then arriving in the winter window.