What Emile Heskey has said about Ipswich Town re-signing Chelsea's Liam Delap | OneFootball

Emile Heskey believes Liam Delap should return to Ipswich this summer if they are promoted

Ipswich Town are targeting an immediate return to the Premier League following relegation from the top flight last season, with Kieran McKenna's side well-placed to make a real push for the top two positions with the campaign edging towards its finale.

Ever since Northern Irish boss McKenna took the reins at Portman Road in December 2021, Ipswich's fortunes have completely switched on their head.

Having spent the past couple of seasons dwindling in the third tier, McKenna guided Ipswich to two back-to-back promotions in each of his first two full seasons in charge in Suffolk, reaching the Premier League.

Although they would be immediately relegated back to the Championship, the whole club dynamic has changed, and now they look primed for a place in the top two of the second tier come May, snapping at the heels of Coventry City and Middlesbrough.

Many had expected more from the Tractor Boys following their relegation back to the second tier, though with a large squad overhaul in the summer, a minor decline was maybe to be expected.

Nevertheless, there is no reason, as things stand, as to why Ipswich can't go on and fire themselves back to the top flight, and should they do so, a former England star has backed McKenna's side to make the blockbuster return of a player they sold for £30 million just last summer.

Emile Heskey believes Ipswich Town should re-sign Liam Delap this summer if they earn promotion

Former Liverpool and England international striker Emile Heskey believes that, should Ipswich indeed make their return to the Premier League this campaign, then they should do everything in their power to bring Liam Delap back to the club.

Delap shone at Portman Road last season in what was his inaugural year in the top flight, having previously shown glimpses of his quality on loan at the likes of Preston North End, Stoke City, and Hull City in the Championship, when Ipswich decided to pay Manchester City £30 million for his services upon their promotion.

The England youth international scored 12 and assisted twice in 37 top-flight games last season in a struggling Ipswich side, but following his move to Stamford Bridge, has scored just once in 18 league games thus far.

It's clear the move hasn't yet worked out, though Heskey believes Delap should cut his losses and make a return to Ipswich this summer, saying via EADT, "I think returning to Ipswich Town would be a good option if they come up next season because the fans know him, he knows the club, and he’ll be given time to get back to his best self."

Any potential return to Portman Road may be scuppered by the fact that Delap signed a six-year deal with the Blues upon his arrival, and is likely on a decent wage, much better than he would've been on at Ipswich.

The only way a move back to Ipswich could be facilitated would be if Delap was willing to scrap his long-term deal in West London and take a paycut to return to Suffolk, something which, at this stage, seems unlikely.

A loan move seems a more likely avenue, though at the moment this is nothing but speculation, and Ipswich would almost certainly need to earn promotion if they stand any chance of seeing the 23-year-old rejoin them this summer.

Kieran McKenna would likely welcome Liam Delap's Ipswich Town return

In the event that Ipswich find themselves as a Premier club once again next season, head coach McKenna would almost certainly welcome his return with open arms.

Since his departure, neither George Hirst, Ivan Azon, nor Chuba Akpom have been able to fill the vacancy left by the Manchester City academy graduate, with just 12 league goals between them this campaign thus far.

Another striker or two will certainly be an area which is targeted by Ipswich in the summer, whether they earn promotion or not, but if they do find themselves in the top flight, Delap would be an excellent option.

A permanent move at this stage of his career would appear in doubt, and if he is unable to make an impact under Liam Rosenior at Chelsea, with whom he previously worked with at Hull, the Blues could sanction a loan move.

At the moment, no concrete links have been made, but Heskey, who has over 500 Premier League appearances to his name, believes a reunion this summer would be a match made in heaven for all parties.