Liam Delap's release clause becomes active as Chelsea & Man Utd plot bids | OneFootball

Ipswich Town's relegation from the Premier League has now been confirmed and the vultures are already circling their best and brightest.

Not many have impressed during Ipswich's brief return to the top flight but Liam Delap has certainly been a shining light. The 22-year-old, who only signed for the Tractor Boys last summer, is the club's leading goalscorer by some distance and is already intriguing Europe's elite.

Even more tantalising for potential suitors is Delap's relegation release clause, which has now been activated following Ipswich's demotion. A cut-price fee for a player of such quality and potential will almost certainly prove too good to ignore this summer.

But how much is Delap's clause worth? And who will trigger it when the transfer market opens?

How much is Liam Delap's release clause?

Delap has impressed for the Tractor Boys / Gareth Copley/GettyImages

Ipswich took a punt on Delap last summer after an impressive loan spell with Hull City in the Championship, spending an initial £15m on the Manchester City academy graduate - with £5m in potential add-ons agreed. But Kieran McKenna's side are unlikely to make the major profit they hoped on the young Englishman.

Following Ipswich's relegation, Delap will now be available for just £30m. It's an incredibly affordable price tag for a player of his age with such future potential and who already has invaluable Premier League experience. The powerful centre-forward has proven a menace for even the sternest defences in the division and is only likely to thrive among higher quality teammates.

Unsurprisingly, Delap's name is already filling gossip columns.

Which clubs are interested in Liam Delap?

Todd Boehly could splash the cash on Delap this summer / Robin Jones/GettyImages

Several Premier League giants are in the market for a new striker this summer. Only Delap's former club Manchester City are well stacked, with Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush. But the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Arsenal all needing attacking reinforcements.

However, it's Chelsea and Manchester United who have been most strongly linked with Delap. The Blues are never shy in entering the market and are expected to offload Christopher Nkunku this summer as they search for someone to share Nicolas Jackson's workload. Of course, Enzo Maresca might not be in the Stamford Bridge dugout next season, which could drastically alter transfer plans, but Delap remains a concrete target.

United are in even greater need of another centre-forward. The woeful form of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund - neither of whom are certain of their futures at Old Trafford - means a new striker is a necessity for Ruben Amorim. Delap shares certain characteristics with Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres - height, power and goalscoring instinct - who Ruben Amorim transformed into a superstar.

The pair are, however, expected to face significant competition from Newcastle United, who see Delap as complementary to Alexander Isak, and it would come as no surprise to see more sides join the race now that Delap's price tag is set.