JUVENTUS are eyeing Ipswich striker Liam Delap – but first face a fight with Manchester United and Chelsea.
The ex-Manchester City youth striker has hit the Prem alight – scoring six of the Tractor Boys’ 13 goals this season.
And now Juventus, who are drawing up contingency plans in case Dusan Vlahovic doesn’t agree a new deal, are monitoring Delap.
So much so, the Serie A side sent scouts to Portman Road last weekend to watch the 21-year-old in the flesh against Man Utd.
And Delap’s fine footwork and natural strength saw him bully Ruben Amorim‘s back-line in Kieran McKenna‘s 1-1 draw with the Red Devils.
He could have won relegation-strugglers Ipswich the game if it weren’t for two incredible saves from Andre Onana.
Juventus remain determined to tie frontman Vlahovic down to a new, improved contract.
His current deal expires in the summer of 2026 but so far, talks over an extension have failed to bear fruit.
Prem giants Man Utd and Chelsea are also monitoring Delap’s progress.
And City have a buy-back clause and negotiated a 20 per cent sell-on when they sold the attacker to Ipswich for £20million in July.
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
Blues boss Enzo Maresca and co-director of recruitment and talent Joe Shields both know Delap from their time working together at City.
Speaking earlier this week, Ipswich boss McKenna poured cold water on discussion surrounding the forward’s future, specifically talk of City’s buy-back clause.
He said: “It’s not anything I’m aware of or interested in to be honest. I think that’s a question for other people and for the chairman.
“My full focus is on this season and, with regards to Liam, trying to help him to continue to improve. I know Liam’s full focus is here and trying to help the team.”
This is Delap’s first full season starting regularly as a No 9, after playing off the wing at times for Hull last year, and as a wide striker in some earlier Championship loan moves.
BBC pundit Danny Murphy believes England already have the next Harry Kane waiting in the wings in Delap.
Murphy star of Delap on Match of the Day 2: “I think he’s got a lot of qualities.
“I’ve seen him a bit quite a lot this season and I’d probably go as far as I say, for me, he the obvious long-term successor to Kane.
“I think he’s the best young English striker out there.”
