Man Utd suffer second Delap transfer blow as Premier League rivals enter talks

Liam Delap has begun speaking to Premier League sides ahead of a £30million transfer away from Ipswich Town this summer - and Everton boss David Moyes has confirmed their interest

Everton have become the latest Premier League club to show an interest in signing Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. The 22-year-old is poised to leave Ipswich following their relegation and has been linked with Manchester United and Chelsea ahead of the summer transfer window opening.

His 12 goals in 36 Premier League games for a struggling side has caught the eye of many scouts and a move away from the Tractor Boys is all but certain. Their demotion back to the Championship has triggered a £30million release clause in Delap’s contract and sparked interest from across the league.

United are chasing a centre-forward this summer and want to sign Delap alongside Wolves star Matheus Cunha in a £92.5m double deal. However, they face competition from Chelsea, who are also in the market for a striker and will be able to offer Delap European football next season.

Defeat by Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday ensured no Champions League place for next season and hurt United’s chances of landing the youngster, who wants to make the step up. Everton’s emergence as another rival for his signature comes as a further blow.

“We have had a chance to speak to him,” Everton boss David Moyes said on Friday. “He’s spoken to three or four clubs and he’s given us the opportunity to pitch our case. We’re probably a little bit behind the black ball but you never know what happens.”

While Everton, like United, can’t offer European football, they could offer Delap the position of first-choice centre-forward. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s contract is set to expire on June 30, while Armando Broja is poised to return to parent club Chelsea at the end of his loan spell, leaving Beto as the sole striker on the books.

Delap will play his final game for Ipswich against West Ham on Sunday before making his decision in the coming weeks. “Liam’s looking at his options for next year, which I think he is entitled to do and we support him with that,” Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna said at a press conference.

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“I think we have given him permission to do that this week. It’s a very important decision for his future. Of course there is a lot of interest – and rightly so. I think part of his week has been having some of those conversations.

“It looks more likely than not that he will move on this summer and he has interest from pretty much every club in the league, and I don’t think there are many clubs in the world who wouldn’t want to have him. (However) nothing is sorted, nothing is done or completed or even very, very, very close, so that process will take its course.”