Ipswich Town plotting move to sign Man City attacker amid Chelsea transfer hurdle | OneFootball

Striker targets are on the agenda at Portman Road.

Manchester City's Divin Mubama is the latest centre-forward to be linked with Ipswich Town as they push to find a replacement for Liam Delap.

The £30 million release clause in the 22-year-old's contract has been activated by Chelsea after Delap informed the other clubs involved in the race for him that Stamford Bridge would be his preferred next destination.

AC Milan, Everton, Juventus, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest: a list of the teams that he reportedly turned down in favour of linking up with old Man City youth team coach Enzo Maresca. Personal terms have been agreed between the player and his new club and a medical has been booked, as per Fabrizio Romano.

So now, for Ipswich, what to do next? How best to spend their new-found riches on a replacement for the 12-goal striker? Romano has reported that Mubama, the Citizens' 20-year-old centre-forward, is an option that they are looking at.

Ipswich interest in Manchester City's Divin Mubama revealed

The Italian journalist has said that Ipswich have approached Delap's former club to ask for the terms on which they could acquire Mubama this summer. He joined City's youth setup last summer after being released by West Ham United. At the time, he was heavily linked with a move to Sunderland.

Pep Guardiola's side reportedly want £10 million for Mubama, who only made one Premier League appearance last season against Town. They aren't alone in the race for him. French side Lille hold serious interest in the player, as per Romano.

The Guardian reported on Thursday that Chelsea teenager, and former Barcelona academy graduate, Marc Guiu was also a player that the Tractor Boys liked as a Delap replacement option, although the Spaniard is yet to be convinced about a move to the Championship.

Guiu struggled for game time in domestic competitions in the last campaign - his first in English football after being bought by Chelsea for £5 million - but he did feature more regularly in the Europa Conference League.

Sheffield United's Ryan Oné, another young attacker, was previously linked with a move to Portman Road should Delap depart this summer.

Ipswich Town's summer striker plans are becoming clearer

From what has been reported so far, it looks like Ipswich aren't going to stray far away from the recruitment method that got them Delap in the first place. He wasn't experienced in the Premier League. He was a raw Man City prospect who had a decent Championship campaign with Hull City before Town agreed a £20 million package with the former top flight champions for the forward.

Yet again, they are being linked with talismen who aren't well-versed in the game but have the potential to explode in the same way as the 22-year-old did. Based off Delap's performance, it's hard to argue that this isn't the right way to go about it.