Liam Delap to return to Man City? Ipswich address star striker's £40m buy-back clause amid Chelsea transfer interest

The reigning Premier League champions agreed to part with England U21 international Delap when sanctioning a £20m ($26m) sale in the summer of 2024. They have seen the 22-year-old frontman hit 10 top-flight goals this season for a struggling Ipswich side.

Interest in Delap is building, as the Tractor Boys find themselves locked in a relegation battle, with several leading clubs said to be mulling over an approach. It has been suggested that City can take the powerful forward back to the Etihad Stadium if they agree to pay double what they sold him for.

Ipswich chairman Mark Ashton is reluctant to go into details when it comes to Delap’s contract, but has told the East Anglian Daily Times: “What I would say is that what's been reported is never quite fact. It would be remiss of me to speak about any individual player, you know I'm going to say that. What I can say is that in January there were was interest in a number of our players from a number of Premier League clubs. But ownership were great. It was ‘you don't have to sell’.

“So look, we're not an easy club to buy from, because we have such strong ownership. Obviously there is always natural point in time when a player has to move. That's the cycle of life, it's the cycle of football. But we are very, very, very well protected with all of that.”

Pressed on whether he can confirm or deny the presence of a buy-back clause, Ashton added: “No. Look, it would be remiss of me to do that. I would actually be in breach of contract for talking in any kind of detail. All I would say to the fans is that hopefully an element of trust has been built with us since we took over. We know what we're doing and we're well, well protected.”

He went on to say when asked if players will only leave Portman Road on Ipswich’s terms in the next window: “Hell, yes.”

Delap signed a five-year contract through to 2029 when linking up with Ipswich. That is keeping bargaining power in Suffolk when it comes to any future deals, with a much sought-after asset not going to come cheap for any of his many suitors.