Derby County academy star about to become £30m darling of Premier League after Man United snub
Liam Delap spent 10 years at Pride Park where his dad was a Rams hero before making the switch to Manchester City
Liam Delap, a product of the Derby County academy, is poised to seal a reported £30m move to Premier League Chelsea.
The 22-year-old, who spent 10 years at Pride Park before making the switch to the Manchester City academy in 2019, is understood to have snubbed Manchester United to agree a deal to join the Londoners instead.
One of the hottest properties in English football this summer after a debut season in the top-flight with Ipswich in which he scored 12 times in 37 appearances, Delap is the son of former Rams player Rory Delap, who made 103 appearances and scored 11 times for Derby between 1998 and 2001.
Following the Tractor Boys’ relegation, Chelsea have met Delap’s £30m release clause and his representatives are now discussing personal terms ahead of a medical at Stamford Bridge.
According to Sky Sports, Champions League football is not the main motivating factor behind Delap’s decision to snub United for Chelsea, instead preferring the Londoners’ style of play under Enzo Maresca, their emphasis on youth, plus the opportunity to play regularly and challenge for major honours.
He will join a number of familiar faces at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground, including the likes of Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia, who he played alongside at City.
“Liam Delap feels Chelsea is the perfect place to move to and has worked with Enzo Maresca and Joe Shields,” explained Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports News. “They feel Delap is someone who can help them to where they want to go.”
After loan spells at Stoke City, Preston North End and Hull City, Delap found his first senior home at Ipswich Town after a £20m move from the Etihad a year ago. He played a starring role under Kieran McKenna, despite the Tractor Boys finishing 19th in the Premier League.
