Liam Delap is at the center of a major transfer tug-of-war as Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur prepare to battle for his signature, but the Ipswich Town striker’s astronomical wage demands could make or break the deal. Delap, who has made a strong impression in his debut Premier League campaign by scoring 12 goals in 33 appearances, is reportedly asking for a weekly salary in the region of £120,000 to £150,000, according to The Chronicle.
The 22-year-old forward joined Ipswich from Manchester City for £20 million last summer and has quickly become a standout performer. Despite Ipswich’s recent relegation from the Premier League, Delap’s performances haven’t gone unnoticed. His release clause has now dropped to £30 million due to the club’s demotion, making him an even more attractive prospect for top-flight teams.
Chelsea and Tottenham are both monitoring his situation closely. The Blues, in particular, could have a financial edge. With eight players already earning more than £150,000-a-week, Chelsea are believed to be capable of meeting Delap’s hefty salary demands. The club is in the market for additional attacking options to support current striker Nicolas Jackson, with Delap emerging as one of their top targets alongside Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres.
Tottenham, under Ange Postecoglou, are also keen to revamp their forward options after an underwhelming season. Although they recently acquired Dominic Solanke for £65 million, adding Delap would provide valuable depth and competition up front.
Despite the growing interest, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has not ruled out Delap staying at Portman Road next season. “As I’ve said before, I think there’s certainly a possibility that he’s an Ipswich player next year,” said McKenna. “But could Liam play for the biggest clubs in the country, the biggest clubs in the world? He certainly can. I fully believe that.”
McKenna also cautioned that Delap is still early in his career. “He’s not played a huge amount of minutes as a leading striker in a team before… he’s still learning and getting better all the time. But he’s happy and developing really well here.”
As the summer transfer window approaches, all eyes will be on Delap’s next move.
