Newcastle are among the clubs due to hold talks with Ipswich’s in-demand striker Liam Delap this week, talkSPORT understands.
Delap plans to hold face-to-face discussions with all of his suitors before deciding who to join this summer.
Liam Delap is due to hold talks with Newcastle this week[/caption]
Eddie Howe’s Champions League hopefuls are one of the clubs who have shown an interest in triggering the England under 21 international’s £30m release clause.
As reported on Monday, Delap has already met Manchester United and will also speak to top brass at Chelsea.
The former Manchester City youngster would ideally prefer to return to the north west, but will consider a number of factors including the chance to play in Europe next season.
Newcastle want to add another striker to their ranks with Callum Wilson expected to leave.
The position is one of four areas of the squad that Howe is looking to bolster this summer.
Newcastle have relied heavily on Alexander Isak’s goals and with the Magpies having secured European football next season, Howe wants further firepower to alleviate some of the burden on his first-choice striker.
Delap has caught the attention of the Magpies boss after a solid first full season in the Premier League.
The 22-year-old netted 12 times in 35 top-flight games for Ipswich despite the club’s relegation to the Championship.
Howe knows he faces serious competition for the striker’s signature from Manchester United and Chelsea, all of which could still offer him Champions League football next season.
The Red Devils appear to be leading the race for Delap with the striker currently leaning towards a move to Old Trafford.
His time in the north west with Manchester City could be a determining factor in his final decision having initially moved to the city in 2020.
But things could change should United fail to overcome Tottenham in Wednesday’s Europa League final in Bilbao.
Ruben Amorim’s side could be without European football next term should they fail to see off as Spurs side in the same predicament.
Failure to get over the line could open the door for Newcastle and Chelsea.
Having his say on United potentially signing the youngster, who is already Ipswich’s fifth all-time top scorer in the Premier League, talkSPORT’s Darren Bent quipped: “Double Hojlund, yeah?”
Avid United fan Andy Goldstein then argued why he doesn’t want to see the former Hull loan star make the move to Old Trafford.
He stated: “I think he’s a really good player, I don’t think he’s the finished article just yet.
“And we’ve got a Liam Delap [Hojlund], and it’s not working at the minute, we’ve got a Liam Delap.
“I think two of them is not the answer, we need a big name, like for argument’s sake, a Harry Kane and a Rasmus Hojlund, or Harry Kane and a Liam Delap.
“I just don’t think Liam Delap and Rasmus Hojlund for Man United – they’re so far away from where they need to be – I don’t think that’s the answer.”
It was a view shared by Bent, who proceeded to explain why he doesn’t believe Delap should be United’s priority in the upcoming window.
He remarked: “I agree. You’re talking about 16 Premier League goals between them, four for Rasmus and 12 for Liam.
“Listen, I’m a big fan of his, I’ve watched him week in, week out, of course he’s improved so much.
“The confidence that he’s got in his own ability, the confidence he’s got to go up against anybody, he won’t get overawed by anyone.
“But I think you’re right, what you don’t want is to have two young centre-forwards – this is still his first full season in the Premier League.
“To go from Ipswich Town, who were in the Championship last season, to Manchester United, and be expected to lead the line and score the goals.
“Listen, it might work, I think he’s got the confidence in himself to be able to do it, but you’re right, there’s going to be dips in his form.
“There’s going to be goal droughts in his form and that’s where you need the maybe older statesmen to kind of go, ‘Right, this is how you learn.’
“Kind of someone like a [Jamie] Vardy to learn him off, but to have two [young strikers], that would be a little bit of a concern for me.
“Because we’ve seen Rasmus this season really struggling in the Premier League and has no-one to lean on for advice, a bit of confidence.
“So then if you add Liam as well, you’re almost making the same mistake again – even though it’s not a mistake because they’re both good players.
“I think you need a more experienced centre-forward and then you maybe bring in Liam Delap.
“He might feel that Man United is the good fit for himself, he might prefer Man United because I’m guessing it’s about [first team] opportunities.
“He might look at Chelsea and think, ‘Nicolas Jackson, probably going to play a lot more than I am.’
“Arsenal, I’m not quite sure about the [Kai] Havertz situation.
“He’s probably looking at United and going, ‘Well they’re a top club, I know they’re going through a bit of a bad time, but they’re a top club and I’m going up against Hojlund.’
“He’s obviously going to fancy himself to play games if Man United phone him.
“He’s looking at it and thinking, out of all the options he might have on the table, ‘Where am I going to go in and play instantly straight away?,’ and that’s probably going to be United.”
