Ipswich striker Liam Delap will be available for £30m this summer because of a relegation release clause, which will be triggered when his club inevitably returns to the Championship.
The 22-year-old is likely to move on, with interest from several Premier League sides after netting 12 goals in 33 games in all competitions in his first full season in the top flight.
Previously, multiple sources told BBC Sport that Delap was expected to be available for £40m in the summer – with his previous club Manchester City holding a ‘buy-back’ fee at that price.
However, sources at Ipswich have since confirmed to BBC Sport that the release clause value decreases by £10m upon relegation.
The Suffolk club lost 2-1 in a key relegation match against Wolves last weekend which has left them 12 points away from safety with only seven games left.
Manager Kieran McKenna accepted relegation “looks more than likely”.
Delap has delivered a series of impressive performances this season and his release clause looks like good value.
Paul MacDonald of FootballTransfers.com says Ipswich spent “significantly” above Delap’s market value of £6.5m last summer, which was another example of City “extracting maximum value for their excellent youth production line”.
He says the £30m release clause is about right for Delap’s current market value given his lack of European and senior international experience and the fact he has had one “breakout” season.
That is, however, balanced against his age and a “Premier League premium for English forwards”.
So which clubs could make a move for him in the summer?
From Championship to England contention – the rise of ‘fearless’ Delap
Published
18 January
Man Utd: ‘Could happen, not nailed on’
Simon Stone, BBC Sport chief football news reporter:
There is no doubt Manchester United will be one of the clubs with a major interest in Delap this summer.
The release clause is less than United paid for Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee, and Delap has scored more goals than either forward in the Premier League this season. Delap also fits Ruben Amorim’s system and the United coach has frequently said his team do not score enough.
On that basis, and because talk of a move for Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres is now going cold, a transfer is a no-brainer.
The problem for United is the uncertainty over how much money they will have to spend in the summer – they will either earn Champions League qualification via winning the Europa League… or have no European football at all.
Amorim has said he needs to assess gaps in his squad and where his priorities lie.
United also know there will be a lot of competition for Delap and that could drive the price up beyond £30m, and will drive wages up. It is one of the reasons why they are quite keen to offload high-earners Casemiro and Marcus Rashford this summer, because the comparison with their salaries doesn’t help in negotiations either.
Delap to United could definitely happen. But it is not nailed on.
Chelsea: ‘Interest and Maresca connection’
BBC Sport football news reporter Nizaar Kinsella:
Chelsea sources have signalled interest in Delap in recent months.
Manager Enzo Maresca worked with him in Manchester City’s academy team. Similarly, so did influential recruiter Joe Shields and new academy technical director Glenn van der Kraan.
Those personal relationships make the Stamford Bridge club serious contenders for his signature, but they are reportedly also interested in RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting’s Gyokeres.
The new Chelsea regime are also known to prefer signing players that have release clauses written into their contracts.
Man City: ‘Unlikely despite buy-back clause’
Simon Stone, BBC Sport chief football news reporter:
City had a £40m buy-back agreement on Delap when they sold him to Ipswich last summer.
They also have a 20% sell-on clause on any profit Ipswich make beyond the £20m they initially spent.
With Erling Haaland tied to a contract that does not expire until 2034, Omar Marmoush impressing since his winter arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt and Jeremy Doku and Savinho both in favour with Pep Guardiola this season in wide positions, it does not appear City have room for Delap in a way that would offer regular starts, which surely has to be a key selling point.
In addition, even with five Champions League spots for English teams, it is not certain City will be in Europe’s top competition next season, which is a factor.
On that basis City would be unlikely to make a move, although, with a new technical director in Hugo Viana and a summer rebuild on the cards, that does bring an element of the unknown.
Analysis: ‘He has the swagger you need at big clubs’
BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton:
For £30m, of course a lot of big teams will be looking at him.
It would be a risk going to United with the lack of creativity that they have, but he would be an upgrade on what they have got.
Compared to Chelsea’s main striker, Nicolas Jackson, he is far more physical. He can still run in behind defences but is far more of an all-rounder. Part of the game which I think he could improve is aerially, considering he is 6ft 1in (1.85m).
What I really like is that he has got that sort of swagger about him, and that attitude where he knows he is good, which you need at the bigger clubs.
He is too good for Ipswich. I don’t want to upset their fans but he was a good signing and a brilliant bit of business for them, and they have enjoyed watching him play. Nobody is going to begrudge him leaving to go to a bigger club.
If he went to somewhere like Chelsea or Manchester United then he could be another player who bites Pep in the backside, like Cole Palmer did.
But going back to City behind other forwards is not going to help his development, or his England chances.
Other potential options
Arsenal have been linked heavily with Sesko and Gyokeres but not Delap.
West Ham are known to want a striker in the summer while Aston Villa and Newcastle could emerge as suitors.
Villa sold striker Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in January but signed Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United as a replacement.
Newcastle striker Callum Wilson is out of contract in the summer and Alexander Isak is continually linked with a move away, despite sources at St James’ Park insisting he is not for sale.
Much could also come down to the PSR positions of the various clubs and which teams gain the lucrative windfall for qualifying for the Champions League next season.–BBC
