Liam Delap sent bleak warning over Man Utd transfer amid £30m release clause

Liam Delap is set to be a man in demand this summer after netting 12 times for Ipswich this season, with Manchester United thought to be leading the race, but ex-Red Devil Teddy Sheringham has warned the striker over a move

Manchester United legend Teddy Sheringham has sent a warning to Liam Delap over the prospect of moving to Old Trafford, claiming he will struggle with the poor service currently on offer at the club. The Ipswich forward has impressed many in the Premier League this season after scoring 12 goals for the Tractor Boys.

His form in front of goal has led to speculation he could join a top six club next season, especially with Ipswich on the verge of being sent back down to the Championship.

United have been mentioned as a possible destination for Delap given the club’s struggles up front with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee – and he’s an affordable option with a reported buyout clause of £30million.

But Sheringham – who scored 46 times for United across four seasons and inspired their dramatic 1999 Champions League final win over Bayern Munich – believes Delap won’t solve the team’s problems because they don’t give strikers enough service.

The 59-year-old sent a warning to Delap, insisting his career at United would be a “hard graft” because he would be lacking opportunities in front of goal.

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“Liam Delap to Manchester United? I don’t think it really matters what type of striker is at the club,” he told Casino Hawks. “Unless you’re going to get a phenomenal Erling Haaland that scores at every opportunity, I think they need to work on the service to the striker more than which striker is playing because strikers need service.

“If they’re not getting it they become redundant and it becomes a hard graft for any striker. So I think that’s more the issue, getting the right sort of service and the team to feed the strikers that are there.”

Sheringham, who also played for Tottenham and West Ham and picked up 51 caps for England, said he was a fan of Hojlund despite the Danish striker’s poor displays this season. He’s only managed three goals in the Premier League this season despite costing the club £72million in 2023.

However, he shed doubt on Zirkzee’s prospects at United, saying the Dutchman wasn’t the “ideal man” – but said the forward still had quality to deliver for manager Ruben Amorim.

“I quite like Rasmus Hojlund,” he said. “I really like Hojlund and although I don’t think Joshua Zirkzee is the ideal man, I still think he’s got something a little bit about him that you can score goals.”

Amorim is planning a major overhaul of his struggling squad this season and is especially eager to get a new striker over the line after seeing just six goals in the Premier League between both Hojlund and Zirkzee.

Their top scorer is currently midfielder Bruno Fernandes with eight, which speaks volumes. Wingers Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho have also outscored the two forwards.

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