Who Wants To Sign £30m Ipswich Striker Delap?

Ipswich striker Liam Delap will beryllium disposable for £30m this summertime because of a relegation merchandise clause, which will beryllium triggered erstwhile his nine inevitably returns to nan Championship.

The 22-year-old is apt to move on, pinch liking from respective Premier League sides aft netting 12 goals successful 33 games successful each competitions successful his first afloat play successful nan apical flight.

Previously, aggregate sources told BBC Sport that Delap was expected to beryllium disposable for £40m successful nan summertime - pinch his erstwhile nine Manchester City holding a 'buy-back' interest astatine that price.

However, sources astatine Ipswich person since confirmed to BBC Sport that nan merchandise clause worth decreases by £10m upon relegation.

The Suffolk nine mislaid 2-1 successful a cardinal relegation lucifer against Wolves past play which has near them 12 points distant from information pinch only 7 games left.

Manager Kieran McKenna accepted relegation "looks much than likely".

Delap has delivered a series of awesome performances this season and his merchandise clause looks for illustration bully value.

Paul MacDonald of FootballTransfers.com says Ipswich spent "significantly" supra Delap's marketplace worth of £6.5m past summer, which was different illustration of City "extracting maximum worth for their fantabulous younker accumulation line".

He says nan £30m merchandise clause is astir correct for Delap's existent marketplace worth fixed his deficiency of European and elder world acquisition and nan truth he has had 1 "breakout" season.

That is, however, balanced against his property and a "Premier League premium for English forwards".

So which clubs could make a move for him successful nan summer?

Simon Stone, BBC Sport main shot news reporter:

There is nary uncertainty Manchester United will beryllium 1 of nan clubs pinch a awesome liking successful Delap this summer.

The merchandise clause is little than United paid for Rasmus Hojlund aliases Joshua Zirkzee, and Delap has scored much goals than either guardant successful nan Premier League this season. Delap besides fits Ruben Amorim's strategy and nan United coach has often said his squad do not people enough.

On that basis, and because talk of a move for Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres is now going cold, a transportation is simply a no-brainer.

The problem for United is nan uncertainty complete really overmuch money they will person to walk successful nan summertime - they will either gain Champions League qualification via winning nan Europa League... aliases person nary European shot astatine all.

Amorim has said he needs to measure gaps successful his squad and wherever his priorities lie.

United besides cognize location will beryllium a batch of title for Delap and that could thrust nan value up beyond £30m, and will thrust wages up. It is 1 of nan reasons why they are rather keen to offload high-earners Casemiro and Marcus Rashford this summer, because nan comparison pinch their salaries doesn't thief successful negotiations either.

Delap to United could decidedly happen. But it is not nailed on.

BBC Sport shot news newsman Nizaar Kinsella:

Chelsea sources person signalled liking successful Delap successful caller months.

Manager Enzo Maresca worked pinch him successful Manchester City's academy team. Similarly, truthful did influential recruiter Joe Shields and caller academy method head Glenn van der Kraan.

Those individual relationships make nan Stamford Bridge nine superior contenders for his signature, but they are reportedly besides willing successful RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Sporting's Gyokeres.

The caller Chelsea authorities are besides known to for illustration signing players that person merchandise clauses written into their contracts.

Simon Stone, BBC Sport main shot news reporter:

City had a £40m buy-back statement connected Delap erstwhile they sold him to Ipswich past summer.

They besides person a 20% sell-on clause connected immoderate profit Ipswich make beyond nan £20m they initially spent.

With Erling Haaland tied to a statement that does not expire until 2034, Omar Marmoush impressing since his wintertime presence from Eintracht Frankfurt and Jeremy Doku and Savinho some successful favour pinch Pep Guardiola this play successful wide positions, it does not look City person room for Delap successful a measurement that would connection regular starts, which surely has to beryllium a cardinal trading point.

In addition, moreover pinch 5 Champions League spots for English teams, it is not definite City will beryllium successful Europe's apical title adjacent season, which is simply a factor.

On that ground City would beryllium improbable to make a move, although, pinch a caller method head successful Hugo Viana and a summertime rebuild connected nan cards, that does bring an constituent of nan unknown.

BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton:

For £30m, of people a batch of large teams will beryllium looking astatine him.

It would beryllium a consequence going to United pinch nan deficiency of productivity that they have, but he would beryllium an upgrade connected what they person got.

Compared to Chelsea's main striker, Nicolas Jackson, he is acold much physical. He tin still tally successful down defences but is acold much of an all-rounder. Part of nan crippled which I deliberation he could amended is aerially, considering he is 6ft 1in (1.85m).

What I really for illustration is that he has sewage that benignant of swagger astir him, and that cognition wherever he knows he is good, which you request astatine nan bigger clubs.

He is excessively bully for Ipswich. I don't want to upset their fans but he was a bully signing and a superb spot of business for them, and they person enjoyed watching him play. Nobody is going to begrudge him leaving to spell to a bigger club.

If he went to location for illustration Chelsea aliases Manchester United past he could beryllium different subordinate who bites Pep successful nan backside, for illustration Cole Palmer did.

But going backmost to City down different forwards is not going to thief his development, aliases his England chances.

Arsenal person been linked heavy pinch Sesko and Gyokeres but not Delap.

West Ham are known to want a striker successful nan summertime while Aston Villa and Newcastle could look arsenic suitors.

Villa sold striker Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr successful January but signed Marcus Rashford connected indebtedness from Manchester United arsenic a replacement.

Newcastle striker Callum Wilson is retired of statement successful nan summertime and Alexander Isak is continually linked pinch a move away, contempt sources astatine St James' Park insisting he is not for sale.

Much could besides travel down to nan PSR positions of nan various clubs and which teams summation nan lucrative windfall for qualifying for nan Champions League adjacent season.