United Beyond Manchester

Manchester United could rival big spenders Chelsea for ex-City striker Liam Delap.

According to Pete O’Rourke with Football Insider, Manchester United are ‘keen’ on a summer transfer for Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap. The club plans to sign a new striker and has added Delap to the list of striker targets after a difficult season for Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund.

Playing Style: Delap vs. Zirkzee and Hojlund

Delap is a physical, pacey center forward, who Sky Sports recently described as ‘a one-man wrecking-ball.’ His 1.1 dribbles completed per game is far more than Zirkzee’s and Hojlund’s 0.3, which also leads to his higher fouls drawn per game.

Delap is decent in the air at six foot one and wins 43% of his aerial duels, a higher number than United’s current forwards.

While Delap has scored nine goals, he has also missed nine big chances. For comparison, Zirkzee and Hojlund have combined for seven. The misses show a need to polish his goalscoring abilities, though they have improved as the season has progressed.

Does Delap Fit at United?

Manchester United have a clear need for a proven goalscorer, which makes a move for Delap intriguing. Although the 22-year-old has scored nine goals in 23 Premier League appearances this season, he managed only eight in 31 Championship games last year at Hull City.

Viktor Gyorkeres, another striker target for Amorim, has 22 goals in Liga Portugal this season while adding another six in the Champions League.

While Delap is playing for a Premier League side at the bottom of the table and Gyorkeres is at the best club in Portugal, the Swede has the experience and goalscoring prowess that United needs. Delap presents an interesting long-term option, but the same was said about Zirkzee and Hojlund when they arrived, and neither has panned out the way the club imagined.

Liam Delap could be a valuable addition for Manchester United, but an experienced and proven goalscorer should be prioritized before he signs.