He is 22 years young, has scored 12 goals in his first proper Premier League season, this for the league’s third weakest club. A very strong season by Liam Delap, which has led at least four Premier League clubs to aim for summer signing.
Ipswich are relegated to the Championship, which should lower the buyout clause on Delap to £30 million. An unusual “cheap” signing for a striker who has already shown he can find goals in the world’s toughest league. Manchester United, Newcastle, Chelsea and Tottenham are all heavily linked with the 22-year-old, which has put Delaps’ agent in a comfortable negotiating position. A little too comfortable, some would say.
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Because according to The Croncle, the signal has been sent out that clubs must come in with offers of up to £150,000 in weekly wages. For Newcastle, this will make the rookie one of the club’s highest paid, at Manchester United they are working hard to get on a completely different track with wages that can be justified, and where it must be delivered. Delap has had a trial in 35 Premier League games. Admittedly, with an impressive tally of 12 goals, but still fresh in the world’s toughest league.
19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo is said to have demanded 180,000 in weekly wages in March to extend, which created an avalanche of angry messages from United supporters.
Manchester United will struggle to defend paying Delap with his 35 Premier League games between £120 and £150,000 in weekly wages without having delivered a single goal for the club. United have had plenty of strikers who don’t hit the target (Hojlund earns around £78,000 a week.
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One of the four Premier League clubs is surely willing to give Delap what he requires to win the signing battle, but it is unlikely to be United. “Only” £30 million for the signature, but creates an imbalance in the club’s new salary structure.
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