“GOODNEWS- Tottenham set to Unleash another big- name signing after ‘leading the race’ ahead of Arsenal to sign £33m star
Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as the leading contender to sign Ipswich Town’s rising star Liam Delap, who is also on the radar of rivals Arsenal, according to a report from Caught Offside.
Delap, who began his youth career at Derby County, moved to Manchester City’s academy in 2019. Despite showing promise, he struggled to break into Pep Guardiola’s first team. As a result, City opted to loan him out to various Championship clubs, giving him valuable playing time and experience. It wasn’t until this season, however, that Delap truly found a stable home, with Ipswich Town snapping him up on a permanent deal. Since then, the 21-year-old has hit the ground running at Portman Road, netting four goals in eight Premier League appearances, helping the newly promoted side fight to stay above the relegation zone.
His impressive performances have not gone unnoticed, with several Premier League clubs reportedly circling. Tottenham are said to be keen on securing his signature, positioning themselves as the frontrunners ahead of the upcoming January transfer window. Arsenal, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa are also monitoring his situation, but Spurs appear to be leading the race. Delap could be available for a transfer fee in the region of £33 million (€40 million), a tempting prospect for clubs seeking a young, dynamic striker.
Additionally, there is speculation that Manchester City are considering re-signing Delap, exercising a buy-back option to bring him back to the Etihad. However, despite interest from City and Arsenal, Tottenham’s pursuit seems the most advanced at this stage.
This interest from Tottenham comes on the heels of their summer acquisition of Dominic Solanke, further strengthening their attacking options. Should they successfully land Delap in January, it could raise questions about the future of current forward Richarlison, who has struggled for consistency since joining the club. With two promising young strikers potentially competing for starting roles, Richarlison’s place in the squad might be under threat.
Meanwhile, Arsenal, who let Eddie Nketiah leave during the summer transfer window without signing a replacement, are looking to bolster their forward line. Delap would be a key addition as Mikel Arteta seeks to reinforce the team’s attacking depth in their pursuit of silverware.
The competition for Delap’s signature is expected to intensify as the January window approaches, with the possibility of a transfer battle between Tottenham and Arsenal adding even more intrigue to the mix. If Tottenham manage to outmaneuver their North London rivals, it could be seen as a significant coup, further fueling the rivalry between the two clubs. Spurs fans will be eager to see if their team can secure Delap’s services, while Arsenal will be just as determined to strengthen their squad after a relatively quiet summer in terms of forward acquisitions.
Ultimately, Delap’s future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: his performances at Ipswich have put him on the radar of some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, and his January transfer saga is likely to be one of the most closely followed stories in the football world.