Liam Delap makes final decision on next club as Ipswich striker SNUBS Man Utd transfer and could join new team NEXT WEEK
CHELSEA are closing in on Ipswich striker Liam Delap.
SunSport revealed exclusively on May 14 that the Blues were growing increasingly confident they could beat Manchester United to the £30million forward.
A deal could be announced as early as next week as Chelsea look to build on a strong finish to the season.
They won the Conference League on Wednesday just three days after securing a top four Premier League slot and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Delap, 22, scored 12 goals despite getting relegated with Town.
He has a £30m release clause in his contract and is keen to join boss Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United were interested but their lack of European football next season works against them.
Everton were also in the hunt but Delap looks set to join Chelsea as the first of their summer signings.
The club can look forward to a significant windfall with up to £100m from playing in the Champions League and the same again if they can win the Club World Cup over the summer.
Ipswich want to take Chelsea striker Marc Guiu on loan in return for agreeing the sale of Delap.
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Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna revealed last week that Delap had been considering his options after the Tractor Boys’ relegation was confirmed.
He said: “Liam’s looking at his options for next year, which I think he is entitled to do and we support him with that.
“I think we have given him permission to do that this week. It’s a very important decision for his future. Of course there is a lot of interest – and rightly so.
“I think part of his week has been having some of those conversations.
“It looks more likely than not that he will move on this summer and he has interest from pretty much every club in the league, and I don’t think there are many clubs in the world who wouldn’t want to have him.
“Nothing is sorted, nothing is done or completed or even very, very, very close, so that process will take its course.”