Why Manchester United want to sign £40m striker this summer despite obvious Rasmus Hojlund concern

Manchester United have identified Liam Delap as their preferred striker target ahead of the summer transfer window. It could prove to be a bold move that will define Ruben Amorim's legacy at the club.

At the age of 22, Delap is still a raw talent, but he has already showcased that he is capable of leading the line in the Premier League. United supporters might scoff at his 12 goals for Ipswich Town, but that is double the figure Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have combined this season. It is also an impressive feat for a club almost certain to be relegated from the top-flight.

It is understood Delap will have a release clause in the region of £40 million if and when Ipswich are relegated, while Man City have a buyback clause in the same region. It is a fair fee for a player of his potential and it is no surprise Chelsea are also understood to be interested in a move. Everton and West Ham have both also been credited with interest, so United will have to make a strong pitch if they are to land him this summer.

Why Ruben Amorim wants to sign Liam Delap

A key reason Manchester United want to sign Liam Delap this summer is affordability, but that does not mean he is the 'cheap option' who represents a lack of ambition for the club.

United would like to add a proven goal scorer to their squad this summer, but Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko are both likely to cost too much for a club who could be without European football, while Victor Osimhen is reportedly most likely to move to Saudi Arabia. Even if they could afford any of those three, Delap is the only one who is proven in the Premier League, and his 12-goal haul for Ipswich is mightily impressive for a team that has only scored 31 times in the league this season.

A report in Portugal claims Delap was also a 'concrete option' for Ruben Amorim at Sporting when he was at Hull City, but they signed Conrad Harder instead and the Englishman ended up at Portman Road. The interest in him is longstanding and not a reaction to the club's unfavourable financial position ahead of the summer transfer window. He is well known to technical director Jason Wilcox, who was at Man City when they signed Delap from Derby.

The main reason United want to sign Delap is a simple one, he's very good. He not only can score a variety of goals, but he has not been fazed by the physicality of the Premier League, possessing the lethal combination of pace and power to trouble most defences. There is optimism the 22-year-old could be the perfect fit for Amorim's formation, with the ability to make darting runs behind defences as well as an ability to hold up the ball and bring other forwards into play when required.

An obvious issue is Rasmus Hojlund. He is just four days older than Delap, and the addition of another raw striker could potentially add to their identity crisis in attack rather than solve it. The Ipswich star is a better player than Hojlund was when he joined United, but he is not the experienced head many have been asking for to support the current centre-forward.

It could be that an extra option is all it takes to solve the scoring burden, while having Amad Diallo fit again and Alejandro Garnacho back to form could quickly transform their fortunes. However, there is certainly a large element of risk attached to signing another player who is of the same experience as Hojlund and who will face far more scrutiny if he moves to Old Trafford.

Delap might not be the finished article, but neither are United. Together they could both achieve their full potential.

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