After Manchester City’s long-drawn and ultimately fruitless chase to sign Harry Kane came to an end last summer, Liam Delap seemed destined to fill Sergio Agüero’s boots.
Ever since his arrival at the club in 2019, the son of former Stoke City midfielder, Rory Delap has always been touted as the chosen one to lead the line for years to come.
However, the starlet’s injuries had other ideas, as he missed a chunk of City’s 2021/22 campaign, while the rousing success of Pep Guardiola’s false nine system meant his absence was not felt by the side.
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With the 19-year-old ultimately making his debuts in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup upon his return to full fitness, it is clear to see how highly his unique skill set is rated within the club.
This does not alter the fact that becoming a regular starter for the first-team is not set to become a cruise for Delap anytime soon.
Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez’s arrivals indicate that for the time being, the former Derby County star is surplus to requirements.
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With the club having full faith in Haaland becoming the final piece of the puzzle and Alvarez’s versatility making him a potentially vital squad player, the Englishman may well have to look for playing time elsewhere.
Luckily, it has been revealed that a solution presents itself that benefits both the Premier League champions as well as one of their finest young talents.
As per a report by the Daily Mail, it is understood that Brighton & Hove Albion are set to be ‘interested’ in signing Liam Delap as they are assess striker options ahead of new season.
Further details suggest that the imposing goalscorer is said to be available on loan and could come into discussions as City aim to reduce the fee for Marc Cucurella down to £40 million.
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Ultimately, this deal seems to read like a triumph for all parties involved.
For City, they can finally move past the obstacle of shelling the widely reported £50 million fee to secure the services of the former Getafe left-back.
He has been eyed as a replacement for the potentially outgoing Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has been linked with Arsenal this summer.
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From Delap’s perspective, he has the golden opportunity of gaining some much-needed game time by possibly becoming a starter for Graham Potter’s striker.
In the case of Brighton, the club have needed the arrival of a clinical striker for ages, as the likes of Neil Maupay and Danny Welbeck have flattered to deceive up front for years on end.
Manchester City are expected to ensure that this deal goes through in order to ensure they can solely focus on finalising the arrivals of other potential signings
In recent weeks, they have been linked with the likes of Stefan Ortega and Kalvin Phillips.
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However, it is expected City will also pursue a deal for Cucurella if an appropriate price tag can be agreed.
Topics: Manchester City, Liam Delap, Brighton And Hove Albion, Premier League, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours
Srinivas Sadhanand