Manchester United target Liam Delap has explained one of his biggest strengths and it is something Rasmus Højlund is “so anxious” about.
Ruben Amorim’s main objective for Manchester United in the upcoming summer transfer window is to secure a prolific striker.
The current season has exposed the shortcomings in United’s attacking options, with the forwards failing to perform consistently throughout the campaign.
Rasmus Højlund has scored only three goals in the Premier League, a figure matched by Joshua Zirkzee. Neither player has yet shown they’re ready to spearhead the attack for a club with major ambitions.
It has been reported this week that Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap is the priority target to improve United’s goalscoring issues.
The 22-year-old will have a £40 million release clause this summer if the Tractor Boys are relegated from the Premier League this season – which seems inevitable.
Delap explains important strength in his game
There are doubts over Delap’s ability to lead the line at Old Trafford, mostly because of the way another young striker – Højlund – has struggled.
Big complaints are made over the position of the striker at United right now, with some fans labelling the role as a ‘graveyard shift’ because chances rarely come for the man up front.
However, that is a similar case for Delap at relegation-battling Ipswich and he has still managed to bag 12 goals in the league so far this season.
When speaking to Sky Sports in February about his season so far, the ex-Manchester City academy player explained how he is always “staying aware” for the chances to come even when his team are not creating much.
“Yeah, one hundred percent,” Delap replied when asked whether he needs to be ready for when the ball comes due to Ipswich having less possession than their opponents.
“I think you are always going to get it at some point and we know we’ve got quality from behind to find me when we do get the ball.
“I think it’s just about staying active and staying aware so I’m always ready when it does come.”
Højlund gets “so anxious” when not involved
While it seems like Delap is prepared to wait his time to get chances, this is something Højlund seems to struggle with at Old Trafford.
When he can get quite involved in the game, the Dane can make some positive impacts but if the ball isn’t around much, he struggles to then jump into action when United move into those advanced positions.
This is something Amorim touched on in a press conference in February, where he suggested that United’s no.9 is sometimes “so anxious” to get on the ball that he then moves away from the best positions to score goals.
“We have to look at Rasmus as a player – he has the pace, he has the technique, he’s scored some goals that are really hard to score,” said Amorim.
“Sometimes he doesn’t choose the better run, sometimes he’s so anxious to touch the ball and he moves away from the goal. We address that in training but sometimes it is the confidence of the player.”
The ideal situation is that United are able to improve as a team and start creating more chances for their striker. That will get Højlund, Delap or anyone else more goals.
However, it is also important for the club to have someone who can still score goals when the team are not creating loads or dominating the play. Delap seems to think he can offer exactly that.
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