Ruben Amorim has problems with the Man Utd attack. (Image: Getty)
Manchester United’s hopes of signing one particular striker target this summer could hinge on the performances of two clubs who won’t be involved in the potential transfer.
The start of the era has been a difficult one at Old Trafford, with his side lying 13th in the having suffered 11 defeats in 24 games.
The Portuguese boss sought to address his side’s defensive woes in the latest transfer window, .
But United still appear woefully short in attack, with wide-man Amad their top scorer in all competitions with just six goals.
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Amorim appears to have failed to get the best out of striker . Since scoring a brace in the win over Viktoria Plzen in December, the Dane has gone 14 games without finding the net.
He’s now struck just 23 times in 74 appearances for the club since his £72million move from Atalanta in the summer of 2022, with just 12 of those goals coming in the Premier League.
Amid his lack of form and the pending departure of , the club is inevitably being linked with new forward targets.
Ipswich man Liam Delap is reportedly being tracked. The 22-year-old has scored nine Premier League goals in a struggling Ipswich side this season, and as well as United has been linked with and .
Liam Delap has impressed this season. (Image: Getty)
He’s expected to command a fee of around £50m, but much could now hinge on whether the Tractor Boys can escape an immediate return to the Championship. They currently lie 19th, three points away from Wolves in 17th, and 10 adrift of .
United chiefs will now be willing both and The Toffees to pull clear of the bottom three. Relegation would not only make it inconceivable for Ipswich to keep their prize asset but would also strengthen United’s negotiating position.
If Delap does fire his team to safety, then his club are likely to elevate his asking price significantly. The youth product only agreed on a five-year contract in July after his £20m switch from City, tying him to Portman Road until the summer of 2029.
But given his future credentials, Delap is unlikely to accept plying his trade in the . And with seemingly hell-bent on cost-cutting since acquiring his minority stake at United, club chiefs will welcome the notion of a reduced fee.
Delap made only two appearances with City under and spent last season on loan with Hull in the Championship. He previously had temporary spells at Stoke and Preston but has shown he has the ability to score freely for United in the future too.