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David Prutton believes that Liam Delap would be a hit for the Red Devils following new reports of his preference to move to Old Trafford

Former Premier League midfielder and current Sky Sports pundit David Prutton believes that Liam Delap would be a good fit for Manchester United, despite their troubles this season, after recent reports emerged about his preference to sign for the Red Devils over the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle in the upcoming transfer window.

22-year-old Delap has burst onto the scene in the top-flight with Ipswich this season, with 12 league goals in his maiden Premier League campaign despite Kieran McKenna's side having their relegation confirmed with four games still to play last month.

He is a wanted man this summer as a result of his strong form, and it looks as if United have moved ahead of their transfer rivals in the race to sign him soon following new revelations.

Ruben Amorim's side have endured one of the worst top-flight seasons in the club's decorated history over the course of this campaign, but they can salvage something with a win over Spurs in the Europa League final in Bilbao next week, which would, in turn, secure them a place in the Champions League for 2025/26.

David Prutton offers Liam Delap, Manchester United transfer verdict - he would fit 'very well'

Delap joined the newly-promoted Tractor Boys for an initial £15 million from Manchester City last summer, after he impressed on loan at Championship outfit Hull City in the 2023/24 campaign.

He hit the ground running at Portman Road, with six strikes in his first 11 league outings, and he has continued to shine as Kieran McKenna's main man up-front throughout the rest of the term.

The England youth international has been unable to save Ipswich from relegation, however, and interested clubs have been put on high alert ahead of the summer window, after it was revealed that his current contract has a £30m release clause that numerous top sides are understandably keen on exercising.

Chelsea and Newcastle have each been credited with major interest in his services, but Sky Sports News have revealed that Delap would be happy to move to Old Trafford this summer, with the Red Devils claimed to be in pole position to sign him in the coming months.

Delap's £30m Ipswich exit is inevitable in the near future, and despite United being at a low ebb as a club, Sky Sports presenter and pundit Prutton has backed him to be a success in Ruben Amorim's side if he does make the move back north soon.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Prutton said: “Liam Delap to Man United…I don’t know, it’s a strange place there at the moment, isn’t it?

“It’s historically a ginormous football club, which is possibly where Liam’s thoughts are falling.

“I think he has done wonderfully well in the Premier League. He’s obviously got the pedigree of being at a big football club, and then got himself out into the EFL to get some experience.

“I played with his dad at Southampton. His parents are lovely, they’ve obviously brought up a tremendously hard-working, ambitious, hungry man and footballer.

“I think he’d look great in the red of Man United. Whether he helps them, or whether they collectively can get back to where they believe they should be, which is challenging right at the top, because my god, this season has been an absolute write-off, obviously pending the Europa League final in a couple of days.

“He looks like he has got the personality and the character to lead the line there. It’s just whether he gets the service.

“If you look at what he has done for Ipswich in a team that has dropped out of the Premier League, then I get the sense his attributes would fit very well at Man United.”

Delap has a huge decision to make - he would surely be United's first-choice centre-forward

Few players have to make as big a decision regarding their future at such a young age in football as the one that faces Delap this summer, and he will have to choose his next destination very carefully, as it could well dictate his career for years to come in either a positive or negative way.

He has long been highly-rated from his time at Manchester City, and while Chelsea and Newcastle are each attractive options, he may well fancy a move to United this summer for a myriad of reasons, both on and off the pitch.

The main one of those will be playing time, and despite playing for a relegated side that has only been able to amass 22 points in the Premier League this season, he has outscored both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee's combined league goals total for United so far.

Neither Hojlund nor Zirkzee have been able to make the centre-forward position their own at Old Trafford since they have joined, and neither looks likely to be favoured by Ruben Amorim going forward into the next campaign. It could even be the case that one of them departs the club this summer.

It certainly seems likely that Delap would be joining the 13-time Premier League champions to be their main option in attack, which is potentially more than can be said for either Chelsea or Newcastle as it stands, with both Nicolas Jackson and Alexander Isak still first-choice strikers at each of those clubs.

Another factor in his decision is set to hinge on the Red Devils' fortunes in the Europa League final next week, with a place in the Champions League at stake, which is what Delap will be aiming for ahead of next season as he also looks to stake a claim to be included in Thomas Tuchel's senior England squads going forward.

United also boast what is surely an ideal location for the 22-year-old, given that he will have previously settled in the area in his five years at neighbours City from 2019 to 2024.

It remains to be seen where Delap ends up this summer, but his choice will surely be determined soon with just two games of the Premier League campaign left to play. United certainly seem like favourites as it stands, but a lot could change between now and when he makes his final decision regarding who his new club will be.