Manchester United have reportedly held further internal discussions over a summer move for Ipswich Town's Liam Delap, as the Red Devils look to address their forward issues during the upcoming transfer window.
The team's problems in the final third of the field were once again on full display against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Tuesday night, failing to find the back of the net in a 1-0 defeat at the City Ground.
A lack of a reliable goalscorer has been a major problem for Ruben Amorim's side this term, but a new striker is set to arrive during the summer market, with a number of names being linked with moves to Old Trafford.
Delap has impressed for a struggling Ipswich side this season, and there is an expectation that the Englishman will be on the move at the end of the season, with Man United and Chelsea said to be among the clubs interested.
Manchester City, meanwhile, allegedly have the option to re-sign Delap for a fee in the region of £29.5m as part of the deal that took the 22-year-old to Portman Road last summer.
© Imago
Man United 'hold internal talks over Delap move'
According to the Daily Mail, Man United have held more internal discussions over a move for the forward, while the 20-time English champions believe that they have a clear advantage in the race.
Man United's new technical director Jason Wilcox knows Delap from their time together at Man City, and that has allegedly placed Amorim's side in a strong position when it comes to the battle for his signature.
Delap has been in strong form for Ipswich this season, scoring 10 times and registering two assists in 28 Premier League appearances, but Kieran McKenna's side are seemingly destined to drop back into the Championship.
Indeed, a return of 17 points from 29 matches has left Ipswich in 18th spot in the Premier League table, 12 points behind 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the team have not managed to triumph in the league this year.
© Imago
Ipswich chairman Ashton addresses Delap speculation
Ipswich chairman Mark Ashton recently insisted that his side are "very well protected" when it comes to Delap's future.
"What I can say is that in January there was interest in a number of our players from a number of Premier League clubs." Ashton told the East Anglian Daily Times.
"But ownership were great, it was 'you don't have to sell'. Obviously there is always a natural point in time when a player has to move. That's the cycle of life, it's the cycle of football. But we are very, very, very well protected with all of that."
The expectation is that Delap will be available for a fee in the region of £40m this summer, making him good value considering his age and the fact that he has proven himself in the Premier League during the 2024-25 campaign.
Matt Law
