Kieran McKenna has sent Manchester United a message surrounding doubts about Liam Delap’s abilities amid the club’s pursuit of him this summer.
Manchester United are concentrating their efforts on signing Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap this summer, who has a release clause of £30 million.
Rúben Amorim’s squad has put up a shocking goalscoring display this season. Bruno Fernandes is the club’s top scorer in the Premier League with eight, followed by Amad with seven and Alejandro Garnacho with six.
Rasmus Højlund, the club’s top-choice striker and highest scorer last campaign, has netted just ten goals in all competitions, prompting United to activate a search for a new striker.
With Højlund and Garnacho also linked with exits this summer, the club may look to sign three or four attacking players as they inject a complete squad overhaul at Old Trafford.
McKenna sends Amorim message about Delap
Although Delap has shown himself to be a competent striker in English football this season, there have been calls for United to sign a more experienced striker instead. Amorim himself reportedly told Jason Wilcox he’d rather sign Victor Gyökeres.
However, speaking recently, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has sent a message to Amorim, explaining that, having managed him closely, Delap is a player who has attributes that are just as good as any other striker United could land this summer
“He’s got great potential,” said McKenna. “It’s clear for everyone to see, I think, what he’s done this season for a newly promoted team that’s found it really difficult.
“Not just in his goals, but in some of his performances where he’s been almost impossible for the opposition to handle. I’ve said many times, he’s still young. He still has room to grow, to be more consistent, to round off his game.
“But in terms of attributes, I think he’s as good as what there is out there anywhere in the world.”
The path to signing Delap is becoming incredibly complicated
Earlier this month, reports stated that if United were to win the Europa League, they would be sure-fire favourites to sign Delap. But, after a 1-0 loss against Tottenham in the final, the race to sign him sits at much more of a dead heat.
Although United held face-to-face talks with Delap, it has been widely stated that he will be holding meaningful discussions with all of his genuine suitors.
Speaking recently, Everton manager David Moyes confirmed that he has also held talks with the English striker. “We’ve had a chance to speak to him, yes. He spoke to three or four clubs.
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“He’s given us our opportunity to pitch our case. We’re probably a little bit behind the black ball, but you never know what happens.”
Delap is also expected to engage in talks with Newcastle and Chelsea and is said to have suitors in Europe.
However, the striker is well known to want his next club sorted by the time he embarks with England at the U21 European Championships, which start in mid-June, meaning United will soon know if they have been successful in securing the young star’s services.
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