David Moyes has confirmed Everton are the latest club to express their interest in signing former Hull City star Liam Delap this summer. Delap will leave Ipswich Town after their relegation from the Premier League after just one season at Portman Road, and he will be available for just £30m owing to a clause inserted in the deal when he joined the club from Manchester City last summer.
The 22-year-old, who became a firm favourite during his eye-catching loan stint at City last season, has bagged 12 goals in a struggling Tractor Boys side, and on Friday, Kieran McKenna confirmed the Suffolk club had given him permission to speak with potential suitors.
“I think we have given him permission to do that this week. It’s a very important decision for his future. Of course, there is a lot of interest – and rightly so. I think part of his week has been having some of those conversations,” McKenna said.
“It looks more likely than not that he will move on this summer and he has interest from pretty much every club in the league, and I don’t think there are many clubs in the world who wouldn’t want to have him. (However) nothing is sorted, nothing is done or completed or even very, very, very close, so that process will take its course.”
Moyes says the Toffees have spoken to Derby-born Delap, but face competition from a host of other clubs including Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Newcastle United.
“We have had a chance to speak to him,” Moyes said. “He’s spoken to three or four clubs, and he’s given us the opportunity to pitch our case. We’re probably a little bit behind the black ball, but you never know what happens.”
Manchester United’s dismal Europa League defeat to Tottenham in BIlbao on Wednesday night could hamper their hopes of signing him, given they will not be playing in Europe next term. That could strengthen Newcastle, Forest and Chelsea’s bid given all three are assured of some form for European football going into the final weekend of the Premier League season.