Manchester United have reached an agreement in principle to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, but must now wait for him to make a final call on his future.
The Red Devils have informed Ipswich they are prepared to meet the £30 million release clause in Delap’s contract, which was triggered following the club’s relegation to the Championship.
Discussions over personal terms have progressed smoothly, and a full agreement could be completed quickly once the player gives the go-ahead.
Delap, who scored 12 goals in 37 league appearances last season, has emerged as one of the most sought-after young forwards in England.
He joined Ipswich from Manchester City in a deal worth up to £20m and was one of the few bright spots in a season that ended in disappointment for the newly promoted side.
His form has attracted interest from a host of top-tier clubs, with Chelsea, Newcastle United and Everton all holding talks with him in recent days.
Delap is now weighing up which project offers the best platform for his development, with regular playing time a key factor.
Chelsea may have an advantage thanks to manager Enzo Maresca, who previously worked with Delap in Manchester City’s youth set-up and has spoken highly of him.
Newcastle and Chelsea also have the added pull of Champions League football, which could influence the striker’s final decision.
Delap is expected to be included in England’s Under-21 squad for the upcoming European Championships in Slovakia, and a decision on his club future is likely to be made before then.
United are pushing to finalise key signings early in the transfer window, with Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha also close to joining for £62.5m.
United are revamping their squad under Ruben Amorim, with multiple outgoings also on the cards.
Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony have been made available for transfer, while Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans will leave this summer.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna admitted this week that Delap is likely to move on, although he stressed that no deal has been completed.
