Liam Delap is set for a move in the summer transfer window after excelling at Ipswich as Manchester United and Chelsea circle - but the striker has been handed some key advice
Paul Merson has advised Liam Delap to consider joining Manchester United or Aston Villa with his next move set to be a crucial one. The Ipswich frontman has been a shining light at Portman Road with the team likely to suffer relegation.
Delap joined the Tractor Boys from Manchester City and has flourished as a result of regular game time. He's scored 12 times and has a number of clubs eyeing his services with a clause in his contract making him available for £30million should Ipswich, as is expected, go down.
United have been linked with his services as they eye a new forward whilst several other top clubs have kept tabs on him. Chelsea, who saw Delap score against them earlier this season, are also keen with their recruitment model seeing them target younger players.
Merson though insists the England U21 star needs to join a club that will aid his style and development. Rather than moving based on how much he can earn, Delap has been advised to seek a team who will allow him to best utilise his strengths.
Merson told Sky Sports : "He’s a talent, £30m is not a lot of money for a player of his age. He’s got to pick the right club to go to. He plays with a lot of grass in front of him at Ipswich where teams have a go.
"He’s a good runner, he makes good runs, but he has a got a lot of grass in front of him, he’s got to weigh it up where he goes. It’s not always about the money, it’ll be about he’s a young kid, what game suits him, what team suits him for the way he plays and the chances he gets."
Merson has cited one of his former clubs in Aston Villa as an ideal destination. Their counter-attacking style would allow him the space in behind to run and the same could be said about those on the red half of Manchester, who look to play on the break where possible.
Delap though has been cautioned against signing for someone likes Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester City, who look to dominate the ball. That allows defences to drop and it reduces the space in behind, which leaves strikers having to come short to involve themselves in the game.
"For me, who ticks the box would be Aston Villa," said Merson. "Big pitch, they play on the counter attack as well, so teams come and have a go at Aston Villa, I don’t mean that disrespectfully. But they [opposing teams] will have a go at them. I just think with a bigger club, like Chelsea or Arsenal, Man City, they sit 10 behind the ball.
"I think Man United would be a good fit, I think Man United would be a brilliant fit for him. He’s willing, he makes good runs, he’s strong, he can hold the ball up and he can score goals. Sometimes people say it’s harder to score goals in a bad team but that’s not always the case."