Liam Delap faces big decision on his future amid interest from Man Utd, Chelsea, and Newcastle

Liam Delap is expected to leave Ipswich Town this summer, with a £40m release clause set to become active if the club is relegated. Currently, Ipswich is nine points away from safety with just eight games left to play.

The 22-year-old has been in impressive form this season, netting 11 goals and providing two assists in the Premier League. This comes after he scored eight goals in the Championship last year, helping Ipswich return to the Premier League after a 22-year absence.

Several top clubs are monitoring his situation, with Manchester United, Chelsea, and Newcastle all expressing interest. United and Chelsea are leading the charge, but Newcastle could also make a move, particularly as they seek to boost their attacking options, especially with Callum Wilson's potential departure in mind.

Initially, Manchester United believed they had covered their need for a striker with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. However, after further evaluation by technical director Jason Wilcox and head of recruitment Christopher Vivell, it has become clear that an additional striker is still needed. Wilcox, who worked with Delap during his time at Manchester City, knows the young striker well.

United may face competition from Chelsea, who are also on the lookout for a powerful number nine. The Blues are seeking a player who can hold up the ball and score, offering more support to their creative attackers. Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, also knows Delap from his coaching days at Manchester City, which could give them an advantage.

Meanwhile, Chelsea is considering other targets such as Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, whose release clause starts at €70m and could rise based on his performance. Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak are also on Chelsea’s radar, though they are unlikely to pursue Isak unless Newcastle is open to a sale, which seems unlikely at the moment.

Despite Chelsea’s interest in other forwards like Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, it seems increasingly unlikely they will renew their pursuit of the Nigerian, as Osimhen’s wage demands clash with Chelsea's strict wage structure. Instead, Osimhen might move to Saudi Arabia, with multiple clubs there expressing interest.

Delap, for his part, has not yet made a clear decision about his future. His focus remains on helping Ipswich avoid relegation, and he plans to assess his options at the end of the season.

Additionally, Manchester City has a £40m buyback clause for Delap, but it remains uncertain whether they will exercise it. With new signings like Omar Marmoush and the continued presence of Erling Haaland, Delap may be concerned about his playing time at City. Nonetheless, City continues to monitor Delap’s situation.

European clubs such as Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen are also keeping an eye on the situation, particularly if their own transfer plans shift. Leverkusen, in particular, may be a contender if they lose Viktor Boniface to a Saudi club, with a move to Al-Nassr having fallen through last summer.