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Published January 1, 2025 3:53pm Updated January 1, 2025 3:53pm
Ipswich Town star Liam Delap has been sparkling in the Premier League but insists he is only focussed on the Tractor Boys and not links to bigger clubs.
The 21-year-old joined his current club from Manchester City on a permanent transfer over the summer in a deal worth £20m.
The England Under-21 international signed a five-year contract, but after a string of impressive performances he is already being linked with another move.
Chelsea and Liverpool have both been touted as possible destinations for the striker, who has scored seven goals in 18 Premier League games this campaign.
However, he says he is not interested in such talk and is just thinking about picking up more good results after beating Chelsea 2-0 on Monday night.
‘I don’t really look at things like that. So, yes, I’m just focused on Ipswich,’ Delap told Suffolk News.
‘We are lucky to be playing in the Premier League. I think we’ve got a great opportunity here at Ipswich and we’re just trying to show our ability week in, week out, that’s a big plus for me.’
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has made no secret of his admiration for Delap, who he coached as he came through the ranks at Manchester City.
‘Liam is a fantastic player and also for his age. I think we spent one year together and I think he scored 22, 24 goals and he is a very good striker,’ said the Blues boss before the recent meeting with Ipswich.
‘In England, they have many like him and they have many good players, good strikers and he’s working hard off the ball, on the ball he understands the game and can score goals. And also because of his age, I think he can be an important player for England.’
Delap’s former club Manchester City could also get involved if bids start coming in for the striker as there is a buy-back clause in his contract.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported the existence of the clause, although did not confirm the value of it, while he did state that there is a sell-on clause worth around 20 per cent, which could cost Ipswich a significant amount of money if they sell elsewhere.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has loved what he has seen out of Delap this season, complimenting his forward after a goal in the win over Chelsea.
‘There were so many outstanding individual performances in there, but Liam was fantastic. There is no doubt about that,’ McKenna said.
‘I’ve been saying it to people around the club that he’s improving and he’s a different beast now to what he was in July.
‘We’re seeing that rate of improvement from a 21-year-old, showing the increased maturity that he is, the desire to improve and that’s a really positive sign at 21.
‘I don’t think he is thinking about that (England call-up) to be honest. Liam is a funny lad. He’s good at staying in the moment.
‘He is enjoying his football, he is enjoying the group of boys he is in the dressing room with. He comes to training and wants to have fun and now he wants to get better as well.’
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