Liam Delap | £30m release clause?

Without that clause he's worth double, we can cast off Hojlund and break even hopefully.
 
Ikon said:
I see the obvious potential that Delap has, and there is also the Wilcox connection too, but to my mind, it's yet again going down the route of "one for the future" with a player that has only had one senior season.
We already have Hojlund, Zirkzee & Chido that are "one for the future" not to mention all the other "one for the future" players we already have in other positions.
I fully believe that we need an established and proven goalscorer that has posted the numbers in a couple of leagues, plus in European competition, think Osimhen for example.
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We definitely need an established and proven goalscorer that's why I prefer Osimhen. You get the impression it's a much more complicated deal though.

Look, there is no doubt he has done well to score 12 league goals in a soon to be relegated side. I just worry about him being able to the lead the line and the lack of aerial threat.
 
Got too many young players as it is. I’ll back him if we sign him but you need some proven talent to go alongside these young players or it’ll never work out.
 
devilish said:
Osimhen and Delap live in a different universe. The former is top tier. Everything from his CV right to his brand name, his age and his salary is a clear testament to that. Delap on the other hand is potential. He had 1 good season in the EPL, he's young, and he's hungry. In few words Osimhen would be comparable to a Harry Kane or a Haaland. Meanwhile Delap is comparable to a Sesko, a Guessand or....our own Hojlund (though his fee makes him top tier)

Now United had made it clear that finances are back in the picture in terms of transfers. That means that we're reverting to a rather cynical strategy were adults rather then sales gurus decide our transfer strategy.

What makes Delap so attractive?

a- he's young
b- he's EPL proven but he hasn't done enough to snub the cover/competition role
c- he's homegrown
d- the financial package (fee + salary) is very attractive. We don't need him to turn into the next Alan Shearer to justify that financial package and even if he fails miserably then if things are done right then we would still be able to recoup most of the money back

At this point United will have plans for 2 different scenarios.


Scenario 1 - we make it to CL qualification

3 things would happen in that case ie more money, more games (compared to no Europe) and United's pulling factor will go to the roof. That means that we can afford Osimhen and he will probably be interested in joining us on reasonable terms (he will probably want to join us either way but without CL qualification he'll be on the driver's seat in terms of negotiations)). The CL is a gold mine were real money is generated at every step of the way. United will be aware that if they want to go to the latter stages then Osimhen will need to be rested. Can we trust Hojlund to hold the fort in that case? I very much doubt it. Hence I won't be surprised if Delap is signed as cover/competition in that situation


Scenario 2 - We don't make it to CL qualification

In that case we'll have less money, United's pulling factor will be hit but we'll also have less games. The latter is quite significant. For example Napoli ended 10th last season having played 49 games including 8 in the CL. This year they are joint first and that despite having lost key players such as Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia (January). Less games means more time to rest and it means more time to drill the squad during training etc. Under such circumstances were we only play 1 game a week for most of the season then United might consider relying on Delap and possibly keep Hojlund (or replace him with an experienced striker on the cheap like Schick)

I think that United will try to sell Hojlund next season either way. He lost the trust of his teammates and there's no turning back after that. If we make it to CL qualification and we're able to sell him then I won't be surprised if we add Osimhen and Delap. Take away the former then we go for Delap and someone like Schick. Take away the latter then we go for Osimhen (CL qualification) or Delap (no CL qualification) and Hojlund.
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I really hope you are right about there being two scenarios, however you would think if that's the case then Utd journos would be reporting it or at least got word of it.
 
Lentwood said:
It would be a very smart signing. He's already better / better suited than Hojlund and at only £30m, there's virtually no chance we lose money on him / get stuck with him if he falls short of the level required for top six
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I've never met you but I wouldn't be surprised if you were better suited than Hojlund
 
I genuinely think that Delap is being targeted as a Rasmus replacement (similar fees I’d imagine) and an Osimhen would be in addition as our premier striker. This could be dependent on Champions League qualification though!
 
Rasmus_9 said:
I genuinely think that Delap is being targeted as a Rasmus replacement (similar fees I’d imagine) and an Osimhen would be in addition as our premier striker. This could be dependent on Champions League qualification though!
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Oh know it's completely dependent on Champions League qualification, however just want us to think it's possible if that happens
 
croadyman said:
I really hope you are right about there being two scenarios, however you would think if that's the case then Utd journos would be reporting it or at least got word of it.
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There's a very good reason for that

a- We're still in April. Alot of things can change by summer
b- There's a lot of moving parts. Most of whom are outside the club's control. That include CL qualification, transfer sales (Hojlund and possibly Rashford and Garnacho) and players actually choosing us over others.
c- If we're really going for two strikers then the last thing the club wants to do is to say we're bringing player A as backup and player B as first teamer. That's because player A would probably go elsewhere. What the club will probably do is to secure player A fast then get player B later on with the excuse that we were forced to move quickly for player B because he was set to join someone else. That was what United did with Alan Smith and Wayne Rooney who were signed in the same year. I very much doubt that Smith would have signed if he knew that United would have Rooney AND RVN upfront

However alot of things suggest that what I am saying is true.

A- Its evident that the squad had lost hope on Hojlund. They barely pass him the ball anymore. That's bad mate because once a striker had lost the trust of his team mates then he's basically gone
B- Delap and Osimhen are at different stages of their career. Its like comparing Kane with Sesko or Donnarumma with Trafford
C- The rumors on both players is relentless. The only thing we're not hearing is that we might want them both though some are joining the dots (if the stars align)
D- Both players are very achievable. Delap has a minimum fee clause while Napoli wants to get rid of Osimhen. His huge salary means that not many clubs will go for him and that the transfer fee will be kept low. I won't be surprised if we could get the pair for a combined 70m-80m. That's quite affordable if we do manage to sell Hojlund and 1-2 out of Zirkzee, Antony and Rashford.
 
SonOfFergie said:
We are 14th in the league? If anyone expects automatic top 4 and title challenge he is in for a disappointment. Top 6 next season would be a massive massive improvement on last two years showing.
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Its football, its not a linear curve. Leicester won the league after struggling with relegation. Nottingham forest 3rd this season after surviving relegation last season. Sorry, but I except Manchester united to at least aim for top 4 after a bad season.
 
Well now that Ornstein has confirmed Osimhen is not an option we had better hope Delap chooses us. We are not the only club interested and I have no idea where else we go if he turns us down as the other options are just as unproven and significantly more expensive.
 
Andy_Cole said:
We won’t improve on mid table when we’re buying relegation players.
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Newcastle signed Harvey Barnes and Livramento from a relegation team and they’ve both been excellent for them this season.

Delap is clearly not a ‘relegation’ player, he’s a good young striker who will only improve. 12 PL goals as a 22 year old playing in a terrible team with poor service is nothing to be sniffed at.
 
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stepic said:
Newcastle signed Harvey Barnes and Livramento from a relegation team and they’ve both been excellent for them this season.

Delap is clearly not a ‘relegation’ player, he’s a good young striker who will only improve. 12 PL games as a 22 year old playing in a terrible team with poor service is nothing to be sniffed at.
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You mean 12 goals yes ?

I'm not sold on Delap at all. Its a massive risk for the club who seem to get it perennially wrong at striker each summer.
 
stepic said:
Newcastle signed Harvey Barnes and Livramento from a relegation team and they’ve both been excellent for them this season.

Delap is clearly not a ‘relegation’ player, he’s a good young striker who will only improve. 12 PL games as a 22 year old playing in a terrible team with poor service is nothing to be sniffed at.
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2 of those pens. Zero headers.
 
Andy_Cole said:
We won’t improve on mid table when we’re buying relegation players.
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I don’t disagree with the sentiment but that’s very unfair on him. He’s just starting his career and typically even great players can begin at lesser sides. Would you have said no to Jude Bellingham?
He’s a top talent and we should have no reservations getting him, especially seeing as loads of other clubs want him. The issue for some is that he will be our striker acquisition when of course we’d all want Osimhen, Gyorkeres or someone else as our number one. The reality is we just don’t have the money for it.
 
stepic said:
Newcastle signed Harvey Barnes and Livramento from a relegation team and they’ve both been excellent for them this season.

Delap is clearly not a ‘relegation’ player, he’s a good young striker who will only improve. 12 PL games as a 22 year old playing in a terrible team with poor service is nothing to be sniffed at.
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12 goals this season
8 in the championship last season

Big risk to hang your season on him being your number 1 striker next season, especially when you took one 2 years ago opting for Hojlund over Kane
 
Getting another striker with one season of top flight experience and a maximum goal haul of 12 is a risk. At a superficial level it looks pretty similar to when we got Højlund.
 
Cassidy said:
12 goals this season
8 in the championship last season

Big risk to hang your season on him being your number 1 striker next season, especially when you took one 2 years ago opting for Hojlund over Kane
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I get that but what is the realistic alternative? I think we knew Gyokeres wanted Arsenal and Osimhen is Saudi bound so if those 2 are off the table who should we sign if not Delap?
 
Raoul said:
You mean 12 goals yes ?

I'm not sold on Delap at all. Its a massive risk for the club who seem to get it perennially wrong at striker each summer.
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Sorry yeah, goals

He’s a bit of a risk granted and I’m sure we’d have rather Gyokeres but it seems he’s almost certainly Arsenal bound.
 
stepic said:
Sorry yeah, goals

He’s a bit of a risk granted and I’m sure we’d have rather Gyokeres but it seems he’s almost certainly Arsenal bound.
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I've no idea where anyone is going. Two days ago someone posted a tweet that Osimhen was as good as done. Today we're not interested in Osimhen.

The only truth in football transfers is that no one knows anything.
 
Gandalf said:
I get that but what is the realistic alternative? I think we knew Gyokeres wanted Arsenal and Osimhen is Saudi bound so if those 2 are off the table who should we sign if not Delap?
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I’ve always said I would be happy to sign Delap along with another striker if we can sell Hojlund. If we can’t sell Hojlund then I would want to go for a more experienced 9.

If Gyokeres and Osimhen are off the table then maybe look at Boniface, I would even test out the Watkins situation with Villa. If we could shift Hojlund them maybe paring Delap with someone like Schick or David on a free.

I would just be super worried with the CFs being Delap (a major risk) and Hojlund (looking like a bust)
 
Raoul said:
I've no idea where anyone is going. Two days ago someone posted a tweet that Osimhen was as good as done. Today we're not interested in Osimhen.

The only truth in football transfers is that no one knows anything.
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Ornstein is as close as they come to the truth in football journalism and he (along with several others) is reporting that Delap is our number one priority for the striker position this summer.

Delap feels very much like an opportunity signing to me, rather than the right one. His release clause, and potentially the fact that he's home grown, seem more important in the decision to target him than his actual quality. Right now he is a midtable standard striker. Maybe he can develop into a better one than that in the future but he isn't ready to lead the line for a club with the pressure and expectation of United yet.

Chelsea would make more sense for him when he can develop in the background and rotate with a more established striker in Jackson.
 
Andy_Cole said:
We won’t improve on mid table when we’re buying relegation players.
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Berge was relegated with Burnley but he was the best player on the pitch when we played Fulham.

Hojlund wasn´t bad last season, but he´s just not the same player now, for whatever reason. It might have been the injuries that he picked up or the changes in management upsetting his development.
 
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CM said:
Ornstein is as close as they come to the truth in football journalism and he (along with several others) is reporting that Delap is our number one priority for the striker position this summer.

Delap feels very much like an opportunity signing to me, rather than the right one. His release clause, and potentially the fact that he's home grown, seem more important in the decision to target him than his actual quality. Right now he is a midtable standard striker. Maybe he can develop into a better one than that in the future but he isn't ready to lead the line for a club with the pressure and expectation of United yet.

Chelsea would make more sense for him when he can develop in the background and rotate with a more established striker in Jackson.
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All of these guys should be taken with a pinch of salt imo. Delap alone would be a horrendous signing. Delap alongside Cunha would be more palatable since the latter actually has more goals that Delap. If we don't get Delap but want to spend a similar amount on a striker then Schick would by my choice.
 
Backing Delap as our main CF target would certainly be a risk from the perspective of us actually having a top quality CF next season.

But perhaps crucially from the club's perspective, it's the opposite of a risk financially. Because he's a young home-grown player most of the league are reportedly interested in, available at below market value due to the relegation clause. Unlike a Hojlund for example, who was signed at a price where he had to be our long term CF to be a success.

For a club still in the process of trying to shift high-cost underperformers from its squad, and who have already accepted that this is a multi-year rebuild, that cost factor is probably quite reassuring in a very tangible way.
 
sullydnl said:
Backing Delap as our main CF target would certainly be a risk from the perspective of us actually having a top quality CF next season.

But perhaps crucially from the club's perspective, it's the opposite of a risk financially. Because he's a young home-grown player most of the league are reportedly interested in, available at below market value due to the relegation clause. Unlike a Hojlund for example, who was signed at a price where he had to be our long term CF to be a success.

For a club still in the process of trying to shift high-cost underperformers from its squad, and who have already accepted that this is a multi-year rebuild, that cost factor is probably quite reassuring in a very tangible way.
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We need to improve the overall team at this point so I'm guessing 30m is good value, the rest depends on sales
 
LDUred said:
Berge was relegated with Burnley but he was the best player on the pitch when we played Fulham.
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The opposing midfield usually plays well against us. In any case Fulhum were mid table without him and mid table with him which was kind of the point
 
ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg said:
Andy Robertson says hi.

A certain Roy Keane says hello as well.
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Wijnaldum as well, the Liverpool team that won the league in 2020 had 2 "relegation' players.

I get the reservations about Delap but we're one of the worst teams in the league and our strikers are dreadful right now, I'm not sure we can be sniffy about a young striker at a good price who has 12 league goals this season for a terrible team and who still has room to develop.
 
Delap is an upgrade compared to what we currently have. If significant investment is made elsewhere in the team then I’m fine with giving him a chance.

Osimhen and Gyokeres were never serious options so we are shopping in the unproven market and for 30m he is good value.
 
If we sign Delap and nobody else at striker then frankly we deserve what we’ll get, and that’s mid-table or lower
 
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