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Tim Sherwood has urged Arsenal to tempt Ipswich Town with a £40m bid for Chelsea transfer target Liam Delap.
Delap has impressed in his first season in the Premier League, scoring nine goals for an Ipswich Town battling for survival at the bottom of the table.
The 21-year-old’s form has led to interest from several Premier League clubs, including Chelsea and his former side Manchester City who have an option to bring him back to the Etihad Stadium.
Delap only made six appearances for Man City before being sold to Ipswich last summer but the Premier League champions may be regretting their decision given his development at Portman Road.
Arsenal have been linked with a number of strikers during the January transfer window as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his attacking options.
Arteta lost Gabriel Jesus to a season-ending injury last month and knows he cannot rely on Kai Havertz, who both scored and missed chances in Sunday’s incredible 5-1 victory over Manchester City.
The Gunners failed with a bid to sign England striker Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa and Sherwood believes Arteta should turn his attentions to Delap.
Asked whether Delap is a player Arsenal should be looking at, Sherwood told Sky Sports on transfer deadline day: ‘That is a no-brainer for me.
‘I put Delap in front of Watkins, considering what Arsenal need at the moment. This guy, to get him now… Ipswich would be consigned to the Championship already without him.
‘I think £40m would get him now. He would really develop under Mikel Arteta and he gives them something different.
‘I think he is an absolute no-brainer for Arsenal. If Ipswich get relegated, his value will still be up there, about the same price. £40m is nothing for Arsenal, he’s got a huge future ahead of him.’
Arteta remained coy when asked about Arsenal’s transfer plans for deadline day following his team’s emphatic victory over Man City.
‘I don’t know, my phone has been off with the transfer window, forbidden to call me, text me about any of that,’ he said.
‘My focus is that we have the best preparation we can have for Wednesday and that was the only thing I was interested in.’
Delap was on the scoresheet yet again on Saturday but was unable to prevent Ipswich from suffering a damaging defeat at home to bottom-placed Southampton.
Kieran McKenna’s side are second from bottom – three points from safety – following a weekend in which relegation-battlers Wolves beat Aston Villa.
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