Man Utd’s £30m transfer target told to join ‘desperate’ Premier League rivals instead

Former Manchester United and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard has tipped Liam Delap to join Chelsea this summer.

Delap has shone in Kieran McKenna’s struggling Ipswich side this term, racking up 12 goals and two assists across an eye-catching first full season in Premier League football.

But Delap’s goals were ultimately not enough to save the Tractor Boys from the drop and the 22-year-old striker is expected to move on from Portman Road.

A host of top teams have been alerted to a potential deal after it emerged that Delap would be available for a fee of just £30million due to a relegation clause in the forward’s contract.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton are all in the market for a centre-forward and are expected to battle it out for Delap when the transfer window opens for business.

Chelsea have also been credited with a strong interest and Howard believes a move to Stamford Bridge could be the perfect fit for the sought-after England Under-21 international.

‘I think the stakes are too big,’ Howard told NBC Sports when asked about recent rumours linking Delap with his former side Everton.

‘I take your point [that Everton could be a good stepping stone] and there is a development part of it, but there are going to be some big clubs after him.

‘If you’re him, he’s already been at a big club, he already knows what feels and tastes like at Manchester City.

‘He’s going to want to prove his worth and that he can play at the top.’

Asked which club he would choose if he was Delap, Howard replied: ‘Honestly, I think Chelsea are desperate for a striker.

‘The Manchester United pull, I think for a player like him, it’s still there. Whether that feels different because he was a City player…

‘I like the Chelsea profile, I like the young team. He goes into a young team and there’s goals there.

One of Ipswich’s four league wins this season came at home to Chelsea back in December and Delap opened the scoring from the penalty spot that day.

Enzo Maresca sang Delap’s praises ahead of the sides’ 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge last month, but poured cold water on rumours the attacker could be set for a summer switch to Chelsea.

‘He’s already very good,’ Maresca said of Delap.

‘I know Liam from five, six years ago. I had him for one season with Manchester City’s Under-23s so I know him quite well.

‘He’s already a good player, he’s already a very good player and he can be a top player.

‘It depends on him but he is doing well at Ipswich and all the best to him.’

Maresca said Delap has already proven himself to be a top talent, but argued the Englishman still had some way to go before he could be compared to the very best strikers in world football.

The Chelsea head coach was also keen to stress that Chelsea had a dangerous centre-forward of their own in Nicolas Jackson.

‘To compare Liam with Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, I think it’s a bit early,’ Maresca added.

‘But for sure, in terms of style he’s that kind of player. They are all real nines. They are nines inside the box.

‘But we also have a good nine [in Nicolas Jackson]. He’s doing well since we started. Unfortunately, we’ve missed him, and sometimes you need to miss players to realise how important they are for you.

‘With Nico, we are a completely different team compared to when he was injured. We are happy with Nico as our striker.’

Asked to explain the kind of No.9 he ideally wanted at Chelsea, the Italian replied: ‘My perfect No.9 is exactly Nico Jackson. We already have a No.9. It’s not summer now.’

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