Liam Delap, the Ipswich Town striker, has reportedly informed interested clubs that he will not be joining them, as the player has voiced his preference for a move to Chelsea instead.
According to reports from The Athletic, clubs including Manchester United, Newcastle United, Everton, and Nottingham Forest are now aware that Delap will turn down their approaches in favour of a switch to Chelsea.
The 22-year-old striker is considered one of the most sought-after talents, particularly after scoring 12 goals for Ipswich Town this season.
His attractive £30 million release clause has made him a prime target for leading clubs in England and across Europe.
However, it now appears that the forward, who is the son of former Stoke City notable Rory Delap, has made his decision, preferring a move to Chelsea over other interested parties.
The Athletic also reports that European powerhouses like AC Milan and Juventus were among the clubs interested.
Reports suggest Delap is set to join Chelsea, provided the London club meets his release clause and agrees personal terms with the England youth international.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna previously stated that Delap was reviewing his options following the Tractor Boys` recent promotion to the Premier League.
McKenna commented: “Liam is exploring his options for the coming year, which he has every right to do, and we support him in this.”
“We gave him permission to do this this week. It`s a crucial decision for his career. Naturally, there`s significant interest, and deservedly so.”
“Nothing is finalised yet, nothing is completed or even very close to being done, so the process will continue.”
Should Chelsea successfully sign Delap, it might signal the end of their pursuit of Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Chelsea had also been linked with RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko.
This development would likely be welcomed by Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, who are interested in signing either Sesko or Gyokeres this summer.
Delap`s choice to reject other potential clubs means they will now need to look for alternative targets.
For Manchester United, this could intensify their focus on finalising the reported £62.5 million move for Matheus Cunha, a deal thought to be nearing completion.
