‘No-brainer’ – Arsenal told Man Utd transfer target is ‘the answer’ this summer

Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood says Arsenal should resist signing an unproven striker from overseas and instead prioritise a move for Liam Delap this summer.

Delap has enjoyed an eye-catching debut season with Ipswich in the Premier League having left Manchester City for Portman Road following three separate loan moves.

While Delap’s performances have not been enough to save Ipswich from the drop, the 22-year-old has won plenty of admirers with a commendable return of 12 goals and two assists in the English top flight.

Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Arsenal have all been tracking Delap’s progress across the campaign and the revelation that the forward’s contract contains a £30million release clause has only fuelled rumours of an impending switch.

Reports this week indicate that Old Trafford is the most likely destination for Delap, despite the attacker’s previous ties to United’s noisy neighbours City.

However, Sherwood believes Arsenal should be fighting tooth and nail to lure the England Under-21 international to north London when the transfer window opens for business.

On Arsenal’s links to the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, Sherwood told The Kelly & Wrighty Show: ‘Some of those players, there’s no guarantee.

‘[Roberto] Soldado I could use as a good example. He came to Tottenham, he was a record goalscorer in Spain and he really struggled in an unpressurised environment, that wasn’t chasing the big prize to win the Premier League.

‘They’ve got a fantastic academy there at Arsenal, but you’re going to have to wait for them and they can’t play every single game.

I love [Ethan] Nwaneri’s approach at the moment. He’s sitting on the bench with a face like thunder because [Bukayo] Saka is back. He wants to play. I admire that, I love that and he will be a superstar for the football club.

‘To eliminate the big risk, you have to have someone who has already played in the Premier League.’

According to Sherwood, a proposed £30m deal for Delap should be deemed a ‘no-brainer’ for the Gunners.

The ex-Spurs and Aston Villa boss added: ‘For me, there’s one no-brainer out there but I think they need a few more. Liam Delap is the answer, for me.

‘He’s a development player, he can come in there, they can progress him, he’s already played, he’s rehearsed.

‘He’s scored a lot of goals in a very poor Ipswich side this year in the Premier League.

‘Just tick that box, whatever he’s going to cost… £30m is nothing in this day and age, a cup of tea in terms of signings in the Premier League.

‘Then, maybe go and get another one. At least you’ve got a body who plays in that position and you haven’t got to force someone to play out of position to try and put the jigsaw together.’

Ian Wright, the programme’s host, took a similar view on Arsenal’s pursuit of a striker, urging the club to find a centre-forward for the here and now, rather than the long-term future.

‘It’s the last summer that cost us really. That maybe was when the big mistake in that recruitment,’ the legendary ex-Arsenal and England striker chimed in.

‘This summer, with Andrea Berta at the helm, we’ll see what he does. I think it’s going to be a massive summer.

‘What we can’t afford to do it take a chance. You might buy a [Darwin] Nunez or a [Rasmus] Hojlund… I don’t think can Arsenal can afford to pay that much money and they don’t have a return.

‘That’s why it’s so difficult to find that player. Those two players, they played a lot of money for potential and we have to go to that next place. That’s going to cost us.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.