A Stunning Manchester Football Rivalry Surprise
Manchester City's 2024/25 campaign has gone from bad to worse. With top scorer Erling Haaland out for five to seven weeks with an ankle injury, their chances of winning silverware and qualifying for the Champions League are fading fast. But the harm may have begun far earlier than Haaland's injury—namely, in their recent transfer policy.
Arguably the most controversial of those moves was the sale of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid for £82 million. However, possibly even a more abysmal mistake might have been letting promising young striker Liam Delap go on the quiet out to Ipswich Town for £20 million. And now, as Manchester United are allegedly looking to sign Delap to Old Trafford, City could very well be in for an instance of having their future academy star revert back to haunt them in the most perverse way.
Rory Delap's son Liam, who first gained fame at the academy of Derby County, first signed with Manchester City in 2019 aged just 17. Although promoted, he struggled to break Pep Guardiola's first team and played only twice for the league and four times in the cups—scoring once.
Even though seen to have flashes of potential, City chose to sell on Delap and cashed him in by transferring him to Ipswich Town. But with his rapid development and impressive performances, that choice now appears an expensive error, considering the lack of attacking cover with Haaland's injury.
Delap's Emergence and Why Manchester United Desire Him
Since joining Ipswich, Delap has been electric. His athleticism, aerial ability, and never-say-die work rate have given Premier League defenders nightmares. Once only thought of as a raw talent, he is now a complete striker who can play up front for a top club.
Manchester United, who want to add depth to their attack, have been reported to have spotted Delap as a target. Considering their own long history of poaching opposition stars—Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves, for example—the transfer would not be out of fashion. And for Delap, the opportunity to return to Manchester with something to prove might be too tempting to refuse.
Could Delap Be the Man to "Destroy Man City"?
Delap, in his recent interview, indicated he had no bad blood towards Manchester City but would dearly love to prove his mettle at the top level. Should a move to Manchester United occur, then he would have the perfect platform to prove what Manchester City was lacking.
For City fans, the thought of one-time academy prospect proving a success with their bitter rivals would be a nightmare scenario—especially if he plays a big part in the destruction of their campaign.
As the window opens, this potential transfer will be one to watch. Would Delap be the next big talent to turn Manchester loyalties away from the blues and have City live to regret it? Only time will tell.
