Delap Set to Snub Man Utd for Champions League Football

Liam Delap is a wanted man – but the sought-after striker is ready to snub Manchester United in a bid to play Champions League football, SportsBoom sources understand.

The former Manchester City hitman has been a revelation for Ipswich Town this season in the Premier League with 12 goals in 31 league games.

He struggled to break into Pep Guardiola’s star-packed side at the Ethiad Stadium, but has impressed following his £20million move to Suffolk.

But with the Tractor Boys destined for relegation back to the Championship, Delap – who is currently signed to a five-year contract - is being tempted by a string of lifelines to continue his blossoming career in the top-flight.

And the highly-rated 22-year-old is weighing up his options with Premier League big guns Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton also keen to secure his prized signature this summer.

A fee of between £40-50million has been earmarked for the striker who has grown from strength-to-strength after successful loan spells at Stoke City, Preston North End and Hull City to get some welcome experience under his belt in the early stages of his career.

ENGLAND TALENT

Delap is tipped as a future England senior international having risen through the international youth ranks from Under-16 to Under-21 level.

And the added attraction for a host of clubs believed to be monitoring his progress, is that he can leave the club despite being tied to a long-term deal.

It is understood there is a clause in his contract that he can leave if the Tractor Boys are relegated from the Premier League.

Ipswich are third from bottom and mathematically not yet relegated, but the club are 14 points adrift of West Ham with just six games remaining, so relegation could be confirmed this weekend.

If they lose at home to second-placed Arsenal on Sunday then they will join basement boys Southampton and Leicester City

That means the bidding to sign Delap will hot up in the coming ways with the striker set to decide on where his future lies.

There is some chatter Ipswich want to see if they can entice Delap to stay, but his high wages, a lack of Premier League football and a burning desire to play for Thomas Tuchel’s England senior side, are sure to see his departure from Portman Road.