Gary Lineker believes it is only a matter of time before someone signs Ipswich Town star Liam Delap, who has emerged as a top target for Chelsea.
This comes after the striker played a starring role in Ipswich’s 2-2 draw at Fulham on Sunday, with Alan Shearer tipping him to break into the England squad.
Delap left Manchester City for Portman Road last summer in a deal worth up to £20million but he’s already been linked with a big money move to a Premier League giant.
Chelsea and Liverpool are eyeing up the 21-year-old who has eight goals and two assists in 19 top-flight appearances this season, an impressive feat given that the Tractor Boys have only scored 20 goals in total.
Moreover, this is for a club battling to avoid relegation, and while Ipswich are confident Delap will not be sold in January, Lineker ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if a transfer happened.
‘He’s really has got something. I think they’ll be [clubs interested in signing him],’ the England legend said on The Rest is Football podcast.
‘With all due respect to Ipswich. I have the same thing with Leicester, every time they get a really good player they get poached by somebody.
‘It wouldn’t surprise me because they [strikers] are worth their weight in gold now.’
While Delap insists he is just focused on helping Ipswich avoid the drop, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has showered the forward with praise having worked with him at City’s academy.
Former Newcastle and England striker Shearer was also very complimentary of Delap, saying on Match of the Day 2: ‘I like him a lot, he’s learning every single game.
‘As a centre-forward, I always said to myself that you have to be aggressive. You have to come off the pitch and ask yourself if you’ve given the centre-halves a tough afternoon. There is no doubt about it, so many times including today he can say “yes”.
‘He held the ball up, he ran in behind and when his team were under pressure he won free-kicks to ease that pressure. He protected the ball and he was a nuisance to play against.
‘I loved his aggression right from the off. You have to take notice of this guy and his performances.
‘You’ve got a really confident, young footballer who is only going to get better. We’re not blessed with English strikers and there’s no doubt Thomas Tuchel will have a right good look at him.’
Delap will have another chance to impress when Ipswich host Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup third-round this Sunday.
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