Premier League trio set to launch first bids for 60-goal Manchester City striker

Manchester City officials are bracing for Premier League offers to sign striker Liam Delap this summer.

The 2003-born striker famously scored on debut for Pep Guardiola’s side during a Carabao Cup clash against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium in 2020, and was handed his Premier League debut just days later during a loss to Leicester City.

Delap, who also made his UEFA Champions League debut during a win against Sporting Lisbon in 2022, featured in the Emirates FA Cup against Birmingham City and Fulham, as well as a Premier League win over Norwich City.

The 21-year-old has been directly involved in 78 goals in 139 career appearances, and spent the recent 2023/24 campaign at Hull City, where the England Under-21 international made 32 appearances and was directly involved in 10 goals.

The striker is contracted at Manchester City until 2026, and previously spent time at both Stoke City and Preston North End in the Sky Bet Championship.

Delap enjoyed notable success with the Blues’ Elite Development Squad as a teenager, scoring 32 goals in 32 Premier League 2 appearances for Manchester City’s academy outfit.

The 21-year-old could be afforded the opportunity to play top-flight football next season, with three Premier League clubs interested in signing the striker, including newly-promoted pair Southampton and Ipswich Town.

Manchester City are ‘expecting’ bids for the forward according to Simon Bajkowski, with Delap having visited Ipswich’s training ground last week, amid interest from Kieran Mckenna’s side.

The Saints are also reportedly interested in completing another signing from the City Football Academy, meanwhile Newcastle have been ‘urged‘ to sign the Englishman as a replacement for Callum Wilson at St James’ Park.

Premier League interest is additionally claimed to have scuppered Hull City’s intentions to try and re-sign the 21-year-old on a fresh season-long loan for the 2024/25 campaign.

Southampton have already completed the signing of Taylor Harwood-Bellis for £20 million from Manchester City this summer, after the Englishman helped the Saints earn top-flight promotion.