Liam Delap's Man Utd transfer was '90 per cent done' before deal collapsed as striker chose Chelsea move instead

It was no secret that the Red Devils were on the hunt for a new striker last summer. They eventually landed on RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko, who joined for £74 million (€85m) to replace the outgoing Rasmus Hojlund. However, it has now been revealed that United were in the hunt to bring former Manchester City youth product Delap to the Theatre of Dreams, only for the deal to collapse in the final stages.

Delap had a £30m relegation release clause after failing to help Ipswich remain in the Premier League under Kieran McKenna, with a handful of top-flight clubs in the race to secure his signature. According to the Daily Mail, a move to United was as much as '90 per cent' completed. 

Eventually, the 22-year-old opted to join rivals Chelsea, where he has since made three appearances and is yet to score for his new side in the Premier League.

Delap pulled on the famous blue shirt and immediately got his hands on silverware, winning the Club World Cup with his new side. It was instant justification for his decision, and it came after admitting the Chelsea project was one that excited him. 

Upon joining Enzo Maresca in west London, Delap hinted that a move elsewhere was on the cards. He said: "You never know if it is going to be the right decision but you've just got to go with your gut and hope it works out. You've got to take your time. I took a few days to speak to people and decide my future.

"I've got a good relationship with the manager," he said of Maresca. "I know how he plays. I've played in this system before. It's very similar now but with little tweaks. I know a lot of the players here and the project of the club, how they see the future. That's what excited me."

After digging into the reasons why Delap did not end up at United, several reports claimed it was due to their lack of European football. The Red Devils were defeated by Tottenham in the Europa League final back in May, denying them the opportunity to play in the Champions League this term. 

On top of that, Delap revealed he spoke to close friend Cole Palmer, who he rose through the ranks with before following in his footsteps and swapping City for Chelsea. He added: "I asked him what I needed to ask him, he told me what I needed to know. But I don't like too much information. Ultimately it was my decision so I kind of just want my head to be clear."

Although there is no doubt that Delap would have been a smart signing for Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils so far seem to have pulled off a better deal by bringing Sesko in. Despite costing the club a significantly higher amount than the ex-Ipswich star would have demanded, Sesko is starting to find his rhythm in the Premier League. 

The Slovenian has made eight appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals. That is two more than Delap, who is still sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Delap has now had two long-term injuries in his short career at the top level. During a loan spell with Hull, he missed 16 games after picking up a knee issue. He has already been sidelined for 14 Chelsea matches, despite only joining in the summer. United fans will claim they have done better business in recruiting a striker based on the lack of impact so far from Delap, but there is still plenty of time for the young forward to make an impact at Stamford Bridge. 

He is expected back by the end of 2025, when he can then start chasing down the 12 Premier League goals that he netted for Ipswich in 2024-25 that earned him a move to one of Europe's powerhouses.