Chelsea lead four-team transfer race for Delap as Man Utd hit by trump card

Liam Delap has shone despite Ipswich struggling in the Premier League with Chelsea leading Manchester United in the battle to sign the English forward this summer

Chelsea are emerging as red-hot favourites to sign Liam Delap this summer. Manchester United, Everton, West Ham and Chelsea are all in the mix for the highly-rated 22-year-old striker.

But Chelsea’s trump card could yet be manager Enzo Maresca who worked at Manchester City's academy and knows the former Etihad academy graduate. That link has been important for ex-City trainee Cole Palmer and Maresca has a reputation for championing young players.

Delap is particularly appealing because he has represented England at under-21 level, has scored 12 goals for Ipswich this season since they were promoted to the top flight and proved he can be a Premier League striker.

But the biggest flag of all is his £30million release clause as that is believed to be the price in his contract - and it would be a potential bargain for a young English striker. The deal could be complicated by any City sell-on but it is unlikely to stop any deal from happening this summer as he is much in demand as Ipswich look set to go down.

United view Delap as a young prospect who would bolster their squad and options - but they may struggle to get him ahead of other rivals.

Delap is likely to make the next move where he thinks he will get minutes, opportunities and also good coaching and knows Maresca and his reputation. Maresca even described Delap last week as “fantastic” and, while begging up Nicolas Jackson, he said the England prospect has the potential to be a big centre forward in the future like Harry Kane or Erling Haaland.

Ipswich got Delap for £15m last summer and he has been a big hit at Portman Road because of his strength, power and goals as well as having an aerial threat. That has attracted a host of clubs but Chelsea look to be in pole position for a move if they can get him for a bargain price.

Despite Delap being tipped to move on Tractor Boys boss Kieran McKenna believes the player could be convinced to remain. He told reporters: "It's not something that's been discussed loads internally at because everyone's focus, honestly, has been on Bournemouth, on Wolves, now on Chelsea.

"But if you ask me, is that a possibility? I think it's certainly a possibility. Liam's a young striker. He's developing really, really well at the football club. He's happy and he's improving every week and we're enjoying working with him. I'm sure there's lots of different possibilities. But Liam's an Ipswich player. He enjoys being an Ipswich player and that's where his full focus is."