Man Utd to rival Chelsea for 'favoured' striker target
- Ipswich Town's Liam Delap likely to be on the move this summer
- 22-year-old on long list of United transfer targets and now viewed as preferred option
- Chelsea also interested in signing former Manchester City youngster
Manchester United are ready to battle Chelsea for the signing of Liam Delap this summer, reports claim, having identified the Ipswich Town striker as their 'favoured' option.
Delap has stood out in an Ipswich side that look destined to return to the Championship less than a year after ending their 22-year exile from the top flight.
United's season, by their own high standards, hasn't been much better. They sit 14th in the Premier League table, having disposed of Erik ten Hag in favour of Ruben Amorim in November, and need to win the Europa League to get continental football on the agenda for next season.
Without it, United risk not being able to attract the calibre of player required to help Amorim turn things around at Old Trafford – though Delap, who has scored 12 Premier League goals in 30 outings, may be an attainable target regardless.
ESPN report that the 22-year-old has been identified as United's preferred target from a striker shortlist that includes Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen, largely because of his £40m price tag.
The Red Devils are not in a position to spend lavishly on new signings and instead must be shrewd in the transfer market as Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues to make cuts at the club.
Neighbourhood rivals Manchester City do have the option to re-sign their academy graduate, having inserted a buy-back clause into the deal they agreed with Ipswich, but it's alleged that the soon to be former Premier League champions will not elect to trigger it.
Indeed, City spent big in January on Egypt international Omar Marmoush, and he's looked like a more than capable alternative to the goal machine that is Erling Haaland.
Chelsea are also in the mix for Delap – they too have well documented issues up front – and are seen as United's main competitors this summer, in part because head coach Enzo Maresca has previously worked with the England Under-21 international at City's academy.
A regular starting place could be on offer for Delap at Old Trafford, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirzkee, who combined cost United over £100m, both struggling to assert themselves in Amorim's side. The pair have combined for just six Premier League goals this season – half the amount Delap has scored in a side almost certain to be relegated barring a miraculous reversal in fortunes.
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