Chelsea and Manchester City will have to wait until the summer of 2025 to sign Ipswich attacker Liam Delap.
According to a report from TBR, Chelsea and Manchester City have received a setback in their pursuit of Liam Delap. Both Premier League clubs were keen on signing him during the upcoming transfer window but they will have to wait until the end of the ongoing campaign to try and lure him to their respective clubs.
After being a part of the Derby County youth setup for a decade, Delap joined the Manchester City youth ranks in the summer of 2019. While he did have a few impressive loan spells away from the team, he parted ways with City in the summer in search of regular first-team action.
He ended up securing a permanent move to Ipswich in the summer of 2024. The 21-year-old has made the most out of the transfer as he has established himself as one of the regulars in the team. He has been involved in 16 league games and has contributed towards seven goals.
While Ipswich are struggling to get things going, the former City star has been one of their standout performers. His work hasn’t gone unnoticed as multiple top clubs are now interested in his signature.
Ipswich won’t sell Delap in January
Chelsea are one of the clubs that have taken note of his performances. The Blues are quite impressed with his output and they feel he could be an ideal fit for their project that revolves around signing the best young stars.
Apart from the London club, his former team City are also considering re-signing him. While Julián Alvarez’s move to Atletico Madrid was a massive financial boost, Pep Guardiola’s team failed to bring in an ideal replacement.
Since Erling Haaland is their only out-and-out forward, City want to bring in a new nine in the winter window. Their coach remains a huge admirer of the English youth international and they are considering re-signing him. They reportedly have a buy-back clause in his contract.
But, the report suggests Ipswich have no intentions of letting him leave until the end of the season. They feel he could be key to their chances of survival in the English top flight. Ipswich’s stance is a massive blow for City as well as Chelsea. Both clubs will have to look at other options to strengthen their attack in January.
