Ipswich Town’s young striker Liam Delap is making waves in the Premier League, with Juventus joining Chelsea and Manchester United in monitoring his progress.
The 21-year-old has had a standout start to the season, which has not gone unnoticed by the biggest clubs in Europe. According to The Mirror, Juventus have now set their sights on Delap as a potential successor for Dusan Vlahovic, amid stalled contract negotiations for the Serbian forward.
The Italian club is reportedly considering Delap as part of their long-term plans, sending scouts to watch him in action during Ipswich’s recent Premier League clash with Manchester United. This move signals their serious intent towards the former Manchester City academy product. However, Delap’s future is far from certain at Ipswich, particularly due to a buy-back clause in his contract held by Manchester City, the club he joined from in July 2024 for £20 million. Additionally, Manchester City also negotiated a 20% sell-on clause, giving them a financial stake in Delap’s potential future move.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has moved to downplay speculation over Delap’s future, stating, “It’s not anything I’m aware of or interested in to be honest. My full focus is on this season and, with regards to Liam, trying to help him to continue to improve.” McKenna has stressed the importance of Delap’s development, especially as this is his first season as a regular starter in the Premier League.
Delap’s Football Journey
Liam Delap’s footballing career began at Derby County’s academy when he was just six years old. After ten years, he joined Manchester City’s academy in 2019, quickly making an impact with England’s youth teams. His senior debut came in September 2020, when he scored in a 2-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the EFL Cup. Following that, Delap made his Premier League debut, coming on as a substitute in a 5-2 defeat by Leicester City.
His time at Manchester City has seen several highs and lows. Delap won the League Cup in 2021, although he wasn’t part of the matchday squad for the final. Injuries interrupted his progress, but after extending his contract with City in 2022, he was loaned out to several clubs, including Stoke City, Preston North End, and Hull City. It was at Hull that he gained recognition for his performances, scoring crucial goals and being named Player of the Month for December 2023.
Ipswich Town and the Premier League
Delap’s move to Ipswich Town in July 2024 marked a fresh chapter in his career, with the club recently promoted to the Premier League. His debut season has seen him become a key figure, with goals including a first for the club in a 1-1 draw against Fulham, and a brace in a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in September 2024.
Site Opinion
Liam Delap’s rise to prominence at Ipswich Town underscores the importance of providing young talents with opportunities in top-flight football. Delap’s experience with several loan spells across different tiers of English football has undoubtedly contributed to his maturity on the pitch. His technical ability and goal-scoring instincts have clearly been honed through these challenges, and his current form at Ipswich is a testament to his potential.
However, the speculation surrounding Delap’s future is a reminder of the volatile nature of the football transfer market. For Ipswich, the prospect of losing a player of Delap’s calibre to a larger club poses both a risk and an opportunity. While it is crucial to keep nurturing his development, it also highlights the reality that top clubs, such as Juventus, are always on the lookout for emerging talent. For now, Ipswich will look to focus on Delap’s growth, but the question remains: how long can they hold onto their young striker before one of Europe’s elite comes knocking?
Discover more from Euro Football
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Leave a Reply