Manchester United’s transfer deal to sign Liam Delap was ’90 per cent done’ before Chelsea hijacked the summer move, according to reports.
The Blues recruited the 22-year-old English striker in a £30m deal from Ipswich Town in June, beating the Red Devils in the race for his signature.
After missing out on Delap, United brought in Benjamin Sesko in a £74m deal from RB Leipzig, voted by agents as the worst transfer of the summer.
But things could’ve been very different – with the Daily Mail claiming United were on the verge of signing Delap before Chelsea stepped in for him.
It’s said United were 10 per cent away from completing the deal as they missed out on the player, who is the son of former footballer Rory Delap.
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Delap, 22, shined for Ipswich in the Premier League last season, registering 12 goals and two assists across 37 top-flight matches.
The Tractor Boys were eventually relegated to the Championship, though, finishing 19th in the table at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Why did Liam Delap pick Chelsea over Man Utd?
Delap said his ‘hunger and desire’ to win major trophies was a significant factor in his decision to join Chelsea in the summer transfer window.
‘Growing up watching this club, I understand the stature of it and how incredible it has been over the years,’ Delap said.
‘I wanted to come here to win trophies. When I spoke to the club, everyone wanted to get back to the very top, and they have the quality and the players to do that.
‘The hunger and desire to keep adding trophies, to take the club back to where it belongs, that is the main objective.’
Delap has already won the Club World Cup with Chelsea since his summer move from Ipswich.
But he’s been limited to just three Premier League appearances for the Blues after suffering a hamstring injury against Fulham in September.
Recent reports have claimed Delap could return sooner than expected and be back on the grass by the end of this month.
Once he’s back to full fitness, Delap faces a battle with fellow summer signing Joao Pedro to become Chelsea’s No.1 striker under Enzo Maresca.
But Pedro has played down competition between the duo and said: ‘I don’t want to say competition.
‘I think it is very good for Chelsea to have both strikers at a good level.’