Delap, who arrived at Ipswich from Manchester City last summer, made a strong impression despite his team’s relegation. ..Continue Reading
His performances, including 12 goals across the season, ensured he remained a sought-after talent.
With a relegation clause in his contract, Delap was unlikely to stay in the Championship, and Chelsea, United, and Newcastle all pursued his signature. However, the Blues have emerged as the frontrunners.
One key factor in his decision was Chelsea’s qualification for the Champions League, secured with a final-day victory over Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, United’s failure to secure European football after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham has forced them to explore other attacking options.
United have already lined up a deal for Matheus Cunha from Wolves and may still target Viktor Gyokeres, particularly if Arsenal moves forward with their pursuit of RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
Chief executive Omar Berrada has emphasized the need for United to balance ambition with financial prudence as they attempt to rebuild following their worst league campaign in decades.
Missing out on Champions League qualification has been a major setback, but United are determined to strengthen their squad under Ruben Amorim.
Cunha’s transfer is expected to be finalized soon, with Wolves granting permission for a medical after his release clause was met.
This could mark the beginning of a busy summer at Old Trafford, with Berrada expressing confidence in the club’s plans for reinforcements.
‘I can’t talk about specifics, but I can say that we’ve been planning for many months now,’ he told MUTV. ‘We were ready for all the different scenarios, so now we know what we need to do.
‘We have a very clear idea of where we need to invest in the squad to improve, so (technical director) Jason (Wilcox), his team, Ruben have been in talks for many months.
‘Now it’s a question of executing that plan and doing it in a way that is prudent but at the same time with ambition.’
