News Update

Chelsea win battle against Manchester United and Newcastle for highly-rated Premier League star

Liam Delap is closing in on a move to Chelsea, talkSPORT understands. Delap has given the green light to a switch to Stamford Bridge and Chelsea are confident he will sign. GettyDelap was a hit in his debut Premier League campaign for the Tractor Boys[/caption] The England Under-21 striker, who has a £30million release clause in his Ipswich contract, has also held talks with both Manchester United and Newcastle as well as Everton. Delap was believed to be leaning towards a switch to United but Chelsea have the trump card of being able to offer Champions League football. The Blues secured it with a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League campaign as they finished fourth. As for United, defeat in the Europa League final against Tottenham ensured they not only missed out on next season’s Champions League, but European football altogether. Should the move eventuate, it would herald a reunion with Blues boss Enzo Maresca. The Italian previously worked with Delap at Manchester City, where the latter spent five years after signing aged 16. He will also compete with incumbent striker Nicolas Jackson for the starting berth. Delap is preparing to join up with the England under-21 squad following the end of the Premier League season. He has been named in Lee Carsley’s squad for a pre-tournament training camp at St. George’s Park. The Young Lions boss will then name his final squad for the Euros in Slovakia on June 6 ahead of their opening match against the Czech Republic six days later. Delap appears poised to remain in the Premier League next season with ChelseaGetty Delap is fresh from scoring 12 goals in 37 league appearances for the Tractor Boys. His tally comes despite Ipswich suffering an immediate relegation back to the Championship after finishing 19th. Ollie Watkins, Cole Palmer and Jarrod Bowen were the only English players to score more Premier League goals than Delap this term. Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna previously revealed before his side’s final match of the season that Delap had permission to speak to other clubs. The Northern Irishman told reporters: “Liam’s looking at his options for next year, which I think he is entitled to do and we support him with that. “I think we have given him permission to do that this week. It’s a very important decision for his future. Of course there is a lot of interest – and rightly so. I think part of his week has been having some of those conversations. “It looks more likely than not that he will move on this summer and he has interest from pretty much every club in the league, and I don’t think there are many clubs in the world who wouldn’t want to have him. “Nothing is sorted, nothing is done or completed or even very, very, very close, so that process will take its course.”

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Chelsea win battle against Manchester United and Newcastle for highly-rated Premier League star

Liam Delap is closing in on a move to Chelsea, talkSPORT understands.

Delap has given the green light to a switch to Stamford Bridge and Chelsea are confident he will sign.

Delap was a hit in his debut Premier League campaign for the Tractor Boys[/caption]

The England Under-21 striker, who has a £30million release clause in his Ipswich contract, has also held talks with both Manchester United and Newcastle as well as Everton.

Delap was believed to be leaning towards a switch to United but Chelsea have the trump card of being able to offer Champions League football.

The Blues secured it with a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League campaign as they finished fourth.

As for United, defeat in the Europa League final against Tottenham ensured they not only missed out on next season’s Champions League, but European football altogether.

Should the move eventuate, it would herald a reunion with Blues boss Enzo Maresca.

The Italian previously worked with Delap at Manchester City, where the latter spent five years after signing aged 16.

He will also compete with incumbent striker Nicolas Jackson for the starting berth.

Delap is preparing to join up with the England under-21 squad following the end of the Premier League season.

He has been named in Lee Carsley’s squad for a pre-tournament training camp at St. George’s Park.

The Young Lions boss will then name his final squad for the Euros in Slovakia on June 6 ahead of their opening match against the Czech Republic six days later.

Delap appears poised to remain in the Premier League next season with Chelsea

Delap is fresh from scoring 12 goals in 37 league appearances for the Tractor Boys.

His tally comes despite Ipswich suffering an immediate relegation back to the Championship after finishing 19th.

Ollie Watkins, Cole Palmer and Jarrod Bowen were the only English players to score more Premier League goals than Delap this term.

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna previously revealed before his side’s final match of the season that Delap had permission to speak to other clubs.

The Northern Irishman told reporters: “Liam’s looking at his options for next year, which I think he is entitled to do and we support him with that.

“I think we have given him permission to do that this week. It’s a very important decision for his future. Of course there is a lot of interest – and rightly so. I think part of his week has been having some of those conversations.

“It looks more likely than not that he will move on this summer and he has interest from pretty much every club in the league, and I don’t think there are many clubs in the world who wouldn’t want to have him.

“Nothing is sorted, nothing is done or completed or even very, very, very close, so that process will take its course.”