Manchester United have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement with Ipswich Town over striker Liam Delap, according to ESPN.
The club has communicated to Ipswich that they are prepared to trigger Delap’s £30 million release clause should he opt to join them.
The decision now rests with the 22-year-old England youth international, who is also drawing interest from Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Everton.
Although Everton have already conducted in-person talks with Delap, they are not expected to win the race for his signature.
Chelsea, United, and Newcastle are considered the front-runners to sign the talented centre-forward, with a decision from Delap anticipated within the week to end the uncertainty surrounding his future.
Delap, alongside Wolves striker Matheus Cunha, is seen as one of United’s top attacking targets.
The Red Devils are in need of a more reliable goalscorer after a lackluster season from current forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, who collectively scored just seven Premier League goals—five fewer than Delap managed for Ipswich alone.
While Zirkzee could stay and be utilized in a deeper role under manager Ruben Amorim’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, Hojlund’s future is less certain.
The club is reportedly open to offers for the Danish forward, with interest from Serie A sides Inter Milan and Juventus.
Manchester United are expected to offload several players this summer to cut costs and make room for reinforcements, particularly in light of their failure to qualify for European competition.
While the club has the resources to land Delap, additional funds will likely need to come from player sales to complete further transfers.
Overall, United’s pursuit of Delap reflects a new approach to rebuilding their attack, focused on youth, adaptability, and proven domestic talent.
