Newcastle United-linked Liam Delap is a man in demand as the summer transfer window approaches.
The Telegraph reported earlier on this week that Newcastle are prepared to rival Manchester United for Delap's signature in the summer. The 22-year-old striker could be available for a cut-price fee of around £30million if the Suffolk club's relegation is confirmed this weekend.
The report adds that the club's recruitment team has been tracking Delap since his academy days at Manchester City. He's said to fit the profile the club is targeting as part of an ambitious recruitment strategy.
Delap would offer the Magpies an additional attacking option alongside Alexander Isak, while his possible arrival would give Eddie Howe the chance to rotate his forwards, although the pair could also feasibly feature together.
Here, we take a closer look at the latest news and headlines surrounding Delap;
Transfer audition
All eyes will be on Delap when Newcastle play relegation-bound Ipswich Town at St James' Park this afternoon. A number of teams are monitoring the striker's situation and he currently has plenty of admirers; including Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Kieran McKenna prediction
Ipswich head coach McKenna has backed Delap to play for a top-level club in the future, but hasn't ruled out the possibility of him staying at Portman Road beyond the summer.
"I don't know who it would be accepted by, because that's not by myself or Ipswich," he said. "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 could 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 with it 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."
Pep Guardiola verdict
City's manager has kept a close eye on Delap's development. "He's doing really well," Guardiola said of Delap in January.
"Many players came up from this academy. They are set up perfectly in the Premier League. When he was here, always we thought he was a typical striker for the Premier League. He's doing really well and we're happy for him."
Alan Shearer assessment
Speaking to Betfair, Newcastle legend, Shearer said: "They [Man United] have also been linked with Liam Delap, one or the other? They need to sign both.
"They need a top-class centre-forward, like Delap. He'll have tons of options, Delap will. When you look at all the clubs who needs a centre-forward in the Premier League - Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United, Liverpool, Spurs - there should be some huge clubs all looking at Delap.
"There's no doubt, if it is that amount of money, then he will have big options."
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