Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna believes Liam Delap has the potential to play ‘for the biggest clubs in the world’, but has reiterated that it’s not a foregone conclusion he leaves the Blues this summer.
The powerful 22-year-old striker has enjoyed an eye-catching debut campaign at Premier League level, scoring 12 goals for a Town side that are all-but relegated with five games to go.
With widespread reports of a £30m relegation release clause in his contract, the England Under-21 international has been strongly linked to Chelsea and Manchester United over recent months.
Put to McKenna that it was widely accepted that Delap would depart, he was asked whether he felt the front man was ready to play for a ‘big club’.
The Blues boss replied: “I don’t know who it would be accepted by, because that’s not by myself or Ipswich. Liam’s focus is still here and finishing the season as strong as possible. As I’ve said before, I think there’s certainly a possibility that he’s an Ipswich player next year. I don’t think anything’s decided in anyone’s mind.
“But can Liam play for the biggest clubs in the country, the biggest clubs in the world? He certainly can. I fully believe that.
“He’s already shown the impact he can have at Premier League level in a team that have really been fighting for everything. I think he can have an outstanding impact at this level.
“But he’s also very young and he’s playing his first season of Premier League football.
“He’s not played a huge amount of minutes as a leading striker in a team before and he’s still learning and getting better all the time.
“What’s right for Liam? What’s right for Ipswich? All those factors will come into play in the summer and the right decision will be made.
“But he’s happy and he’s developing really well here. He has the potential. I think he will, in his career, go on to do some really, really good things.”
Delap has been limited to a cameo role in Town’s last two outings due to a rib injury and remains a fitness doubt ahead of Saturday’s game at Newcastle.