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Liam Delap to make transfer decision in days after talks with four Premier League clubs
Liam Delap is expected to make a decision on his future this week, talkSPORT understands. Chelsea hope their qualification for next season’s Champions League will be enough to land the 22-year-old striker. GettyDelap is expected to choose his next club this week[/caption] Chelsea are leading the race to sign the Ipswich strikerGetty Delap, who has a £30millon release clause, has held talks with Manchester United, Newcastle and Everton as well as the Blues. Enzo Maresca’s side thought to be leading the race to sign the Ipswich forward after securing Champions League football. The Italian previously worked with Delap at Manchester City, where he spent five years after signing aged 16. Meanwhile, United failed to secure Champions League football next season as they lost to Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday. Discussing where Delap may end up, talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook provided an update. He said on air: “My understanding was that he was leaning towards Manchester United because he wanted to go back and live in the north west. He’s a former Manchester City player. “But he does want to play in the Champions League. So I wonder if that may have scuppered United now. “And the noises I’m hearing this morning are more that maybe he’ll end up at Chelsea.” 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. GettyDelap has held talks with Chelsea, United, Newcastle and Everton[/caption] The 22-year-old scored 12 league goals for Ipswich despite their relegationGetty 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 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.” Delap arrived at Portman Road from City last summer on a five-year deal through to 2029.
Liam Delap is expected to make a decision on his future this week, talkSPORT understands.
Chelsea hope their qualification for next season’s Champions League will be enough to land the 22-year-old striker.
Delap, who has a £30millon release clause, has held talks with Manchester United, Newcastle and Everton as well as the Blues.
Enzo Maresca’s side thought to be leading the race to sign the Ipswich forward after securing Champions League football.
The Italian previously worked with Delap at Manchester City, where he spent five years after signing aged 16.
Meanwhile, United failed to secure Champions League football next season as they lost to Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday.
Discussing where Delap may end up, talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook provided an update.
He said on air: “My understanding was that he was leaning towards Manchester United because he wanted to go back and live in the north west. He’s a former Manchester City player.
“But he does want to play in the Champions League. So I wonder if that may have scuppered United now.
“And the noises I’m hearing this morning are more that maybe he’ll end up at Chelsea.”
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 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.”
Delap arrived at Portman Road from City last summer on a five-year deal through to 2029.
