Delap's main reason for snubbing MU transfer shows Ruben Amorim got it wrong

Manchester United are eager to sign a new forward this summer and pinned their hopes on Liam Delap - but the Ipswich star has picked Chelsea instead after the Blues qualified for the Champions League

Liam Delap picked Chelsea over Manchester United in order to play Champions League football, according to reports, despite the Red Devils being confident they could still attract the Ipswich forward. The Blues look to have won the race to sign the striker this summer and are set to activate his £30million release clause.

Delap has become one of the hottest properties in the Premier League after netting 12 goals for the Tractor Boys in the 2024-25 campaign, though he couldn't prevent their relegation to the second tier.

The 22-year-old is eager to stay in the top flight and is assessing his next move, with David Moyes revealing he had spoken to "three or four clubs" - including his Everton side.

United had been strongly linked with Delap and hoped that winning the Europa League could strengthen their position by securing Champions League football. They went on to lose the final 1-0 to Tottenham to round off a miserable season that saw them finish in 15th place.

After the game, manager Ruben Amorim insisted that it might actually be better for United as a club to miss out on Europe because it would increase their preparation between games.

"I have to say that for us not to be in the Champions League could be an advantage to perform better, to prepare better for games, to build that core that we need for the future," he said. "So I think it’s a good thing for us to take advantage not to have European games."

But those words have now backfired after missing out on Delap, who sees playing in the Champions League as one of the main attractions of joining Chelsea - according to the i Paper.

Delap has also been swayed by the likelihood of regular game time after noticing the lack of options up front alongside Nicolas Jackson, the report goes on.

The player's mind has been made up, it claims, despite United officials being optimistic they were still an alluring option without any European football on the table.

Chelsea are planning to activate his release clause in the coming days before finalising personal terms.

It will come as a huge blow to Amorim, who is eager to bolster his front line after watching Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee score just seven goals between them in the Premier League.

Other targets being linked with Old Trafford are Amorim's former Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres, though the Sweden international is also likely to be put off without European football on the table, while Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo is also rumoured to be of interest.