Reports last month suggested that Arsenal had submitted a proposal to Ipswich Town striker, Liam Delap, whose £30m relegation release clause was activated. The England U21 powerhouse, who scored 12 goals in 37 appearances for the Tractor Boys in 2024/25, has since completed a transfer to London rivals Chelsea, penning a six-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
Although some journalists suggested the Gunners were in the running for Delap’s signature, sources closer to Ipswich Town said it was always a two-horse race between Chelsea and Manchester United.
Ipswich are set to make a £12m profit on their £15m signing of Delap, which also included a 20% sell-on fee of any profit to former club Manchester City. The Tractor Boys have long since known that Delap’s stay in Suffolk was going to be a brief one, with clubs angling to sign him since January.
If Arsenal are to close the gap on 2024/25 Premier League champions, Liverpool, they need to invest in more firepower. Injuries to the likes of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus has demonstrated how wafer thin the Gunners’ attacking department is compared with the Reds. It’s one of the main reasons why Arne Slot’s side are priced as 37/20 favourites with the fast-growing online sports betting operator, Betano, with Arsenal currently 5/2 third-favourites. Chelsea are fifth-favourites at 19/1, but Delap has teamed up with his former Manchester City U21 coach, Enzo Maresca, at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca has gone public on his views on Delap as the season’s elapsed. He was full of praise for him prior to Ipswich’s 2-0 home win over the Blues in December.
What will Arsenal miss by not signing Delap?
Although Viktor Gyokeres is a top priority for Mikel Arteta this summer, Delap’s bargain basement £30m transfer fee could become a snip in future years. Delap is aged just 22 and is still five or six years away from his goal-scoring prime.
Whoever signs him could see their £30m outlay triple or even quadruple in value in the next few seasons if Premier League and Champions League goals flow. Signing Gyokeres and Delap for a combined fee of £88m feels like great, long-term business sense for Arsenal.
Delap is a unique physical specimen too. Although he’s by no means the tallest striker at 6ft 1”, his upper body strength is elite. He’s capable of playing the battering ram role, roughing up central defenders and creating space for number tens and inside forwards behind him.
His finishing ability has been exceptional this season too. He’s outperformed his xG (9.3) by almost three goals, which is no mean feat in a relegated outfit. Perhaps Delap’s biggest strength is his ball-carrying ability. He’s in the 93rd percentile this season for successful take-ons and in the 87th percentile for progressive ball carries. He can take a team 40-50 yards up the pitch and draw fouls in dangerous positions.
Although Delap has not yet had a call-up to the England senior squad, Thomas Tuchel is wholly aware of his capabilities. Let’s hope this isn’t a deal that Arteta rues not doing in the coming years.
