Manchester United are confident they will win the red-hot transfer race to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, according to a report.
Delap, 22, has emerged as United’s first-choice target up front this summer due to a £30 million relegation clause in his contract at Portman Road.
This makes the England U-21 international a much more affordable target compared to the other strikers on the market this summer, including Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.
Delap has returned 12 goals in the Premier League this season for the Tractor Boys – a strong return for a side who have only scored 36 times in total.
He also offers a well-rounded skillset as a number nine, capable of leading the line with his physicality or running at opposition defences with his outstanding ball-carrying abilities.
Delap also possesses that essential streak of arrogance that every great striker has. This does not guarantee the 22-year-old will develop into a world-class forward, but it is an essential attribute for any striker to help realise their full potential.
By contrast, the existing striker partnership of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee lack this inner-belief they will score. This is particularly true for Hojlund with the Danish international so often reticent to take a shot on goal that he completely neuters his own attacking threat.
Delap’s impressive debut campaign in the Premier League has put a host of the country’s biggest clubs on red-alert given his favourable release clause, however.
United are joined in the hunt by Chelsea and Newcastle United, with Everton also expressing an interest in bringing him to Goodison Park.
But it was the Red Devils and Chelsea who are thought to be leading the race given the favourable competitors Delap would encounter at Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge, compared to the world-class Alexander Isak at St James’ Park.
However, United’s loss in the Europa League final, thus ruling out the prospect of Champions League qualification next season, had been thought to give Chelsea a key advantage in negotiations after the Blues’ secured 4th place on the final day of the season.
But Christopher Michel (fussball.news) reveals United are “optimistic” their pursuit of Delap will prove successful while contending Chelsea are “probably following other tracks,” suggesting the London club have other targets in mind.
The buy-out clause for Liam Delap is £30 million. #MUFC is optimistic that the transfer will work out. So it’s up to the player himself. The package of sporting quality & price makes him a top priority for MUFC. Competitors like Chelsea are probably following other tracks.
— Christopher Michel (@CMoffiziell) May 27, 2025
Tweet: “The buy-out clause for Liam Delap is £30 million. #MUFC is optimistic that the transfer will work out. So it’s up to the player himself. The package of sporting quality & price makes him a top priority for MUFC. Competitors like Chelsea are probably following other tracks.”
Chelsea have also been linked with Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt), Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig) and Gyokeres, who was also under consideration at Old Trafford.
But the fact that United have prioritised a move for Delap and identified him as their top target could prove key to convincing the 22-year-old that his next move should lie in the north west of England, rather than the west of London.
Featured image Jan Kruger via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
