Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has urged Ipswich striker Liam Delap to choose Manchester United if he does leave Portman Road this summer.
It has been reported that the 22-year-old could be available for £30m if Ipswich are relegated. Several Premier League teams are set to vie for Delap’s signature, but Merson thinks that a move to Old Trafford would make the most sense:
“I just think with a bigger club, like Chelsea or Arsenal, Man City, they sit 10 behind the ball. I think Man United would be a good fit, I think Man United would be a brilliant fit for him.”
“He’s willing, he makes good runs, he’s strong, he can hold the ball up and he can score goals. Sometimes people say it’s harder to score goals in a bad team but that’s not always the case. They have a go, other teams just open the game up and play end-to-end football, you get more chances.”
“I do like him, I think he’s a good player, I think he’ll be a star, but he’s got to pick the right move, he’s got to get this right whatever he does. He could go somewhere and not really play, that’s no good to him, he’s a young kid, or he goes somewhere and they don’t suit the way he plays.”
United have prioritised a move for Delap
The England Under 21 international is said to be high up the club’s list of targets. A move for Napoli’s Victor Osimhen has effectively been ruled out due to his wage demands while Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres is reportedly likelier to join Arsenal.
With Delap also being available for such a low fee, it would help the Red Devils in terms of being able to devote funds to strengthening other positions.
Ipswich’s relegation looks almost certain
Currently, the forward’s release clause stands at £40m, but reports in recent days have suggested that it will drop a further £10m when the Tractor Boys are relegated.
Despite Delap’s best efforts, Kieran McKenna’s side lost a crucial six-pointer against Wolves last weekend. They are now 12 points from safety with 7 games left to go.
Find out who is in Manchester United’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here
