Liam Delap chooses to sign for Chelsea — and turns down United
Liam Delap is expected to sign for Chelsea after suitors of the England Under-21 international were informed he will not be joining them.
The west London club are now progressing with a move to sign the 22-year-old Ipswich Town striker, and are increasingly optimistic the deal will be concluded. In turn, Ipswich are looking take Marc Guiu, Chelsea's 19-year-old striker, on loan for next season. Delap is available for £30million due to a relegation release clause in his contract at Ipswich, who finished second bottom in the Premier League this season.
He had attracted interest from Manchester United as well as Chelsea, who were both considered the leading contenders for his signature. However, United's failure to qualify for the Champions League, after losing the Europa League final, has made them a less enticing prospect, and it is understood that United, as well as other suitors, have been told he will not be joining them. Newcastle United have also held an interest in the former Manchester City academy graduate while Everton have also spoken to him.
Delap, 22, is keen to play in Europe and wants to join a club where he would play regularly. It is now expected that Delap will move to Chelsea, subject to an agreement over personal terms and the meeting of Delap's release clause.
Chelsea are keen to provide more competition for striker Nicolas Jackson, having spent much of the second half of the season without a recognised No9 due to injuries.
They have also targeted Hugo Ekitike, of Eintracht Frankfurt, but his valuation is regarded as too high, reportedly €100million (about £84million), while Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig was another on the club's list.
Delap, who scored 12 Premier League goals this season and set up two more, is believed to have wanted his future sorted before he takes part in the England U21 European Championships, which begin on June 11.
Ekitike has scored 22 goals in 48 appearances, having joined from Paris Saint-Germain last summer. Sesko, meanwhile, has scored 21 goals from 45 appearances in all competitions this term and reportedly has a release clause of £62million.
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