Town striker Liam Delap’s early season form is already attracting interest from Italy, according to a report.

Delap joined Town from Manchester City for £15 million in the close season and since then has made a huge impression, scoring six goals in his first 10 Premier League starts, a record better than England legends Harry Kane (five), Wayne Rooney (five), Alan Shearer (three) and Michael Owen (three).

Claims that some of the top flight’s bigger clubs have been taking notice have circulated in recent weeks via various sources of varying reliability, Tottenham, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea and former club City, who included a buy-back clause in the summer deal, among them.

And now, according to Tutto Juve, scouts from Italian giants Juventus have watched Delap’s performances for the Blues.

Delap is contracted to the Blues until the summer of 2029 and despite the reported interest, a January move would appear very unlikely as Town look to maintain their Premier League status.

Chairman and CEO Mark Ashton recently dismissed the suggestion of Delap departing in the winter window.

“There somebody better have some serious zeroes on chequebook and a crowbar to get him out with, that’s for sure! No, we’ve no desire, we’ve no need,” he told BBC Radio Suffolk.

“I will only sell players, Kieran will tell you this, when he tells me from a football perspective it’s right and if he tells me if it’s from a football perspective it’s right. My job is then to get the best deal for this football club but be ready with the next players to come in.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Writtleblue added 10:44 - Nov 15 Hands off, he's ours.
1

ArmaghBlue added 10:49 - Nov 15 They will need to be prepared for the hefty price tag!!
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Westy added 10:54 - Nov 15 Would he want to play in a league that is so defensively orientated.
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Linkboy13 added 10:57 - Nov 15 England have a shortage of strikers and his form for the u21s has been impressive so he could well make it for the next world cup squad if he can maintain his rapid progress. It's going to be a hard job keeping hold of him so maintaining our Premier league status is vital . The big worry for me is if he gets injured.
1

SamWhiteUK added 10:59 - Nov 15 What is a "buy-back" clause? Do City get first dibs, but we set the price?
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OleTheKitMan added 11:01 - Nov 15 100M Or hands off our boys the future England no9.
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ChingShady added 11:04 - Nov 15 Yeah I watch porn, doesn't mean I'm getting the girl. FO Juve - performance enhancing drugs, bribery, blackmail on referees, just a scandalous club.
4

ArnieM added 11:09 - Nov 15 Well they can all foxtrot Oscar……
2

Perublue added 11:34 - Nov 15 Throw in a couple of Lazio friendly matches and we'll consider it...seriously though Italy is not the draw it was in the '80's or 90's for top class players from the UK...Could only see him going to Bayern abroard if anywhere.
0

Dissboyitfc added 12:02 - Nov 15 Hardly surprising, he is going to be a top top player! I don’t know the validity of this but I heard Man City have a buy back clause for 20 million, anyone else heard this?
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Gforce added 12:07 - Nov 15 The vultures are circling ! It's the way of the world I'm afraid, as soon as a player has a few stand out performances,the big clubs think they've got a divine right to snatch them off you. They'll be after Davis next,that's a cert. 125 million for both,might just cover it.
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blues1 added 12:33 - Nov 15 Dissboyitfc. Yes, there is a buy back clause. But no1 knows what the figure is. If indeed a figure has even been discussed. Would expect it for be more than what we paid tho.
3

Broadbent23 added 12:50 - Nov 15 Are these so called elite sides so stupid. LD has signed a long term contract (maybe a release clause). Inexperienced striker not yet completed a full PL season. Has a buy back clause at Man City. This probably is greedy agent talk. Let's have a system where players cannot have their heads turned so early in a contract. Town have done the work to get him playing well and reorganizing the team into a well drilled unit. Hopefully all this talk is just a sham story created by these worthless journalists feed a line from an agent. Liam will do well as long as he stays out of trouble on the pitch. Our players have woken up to the demands of the PL and we are seeing the results. COYB.

3

cookra added 13:12 - Nov 15 @blues1 , the buy back is activated if a club comes in for a bid for him There will be a set amount in the clause and if it is triggered by another club they will become first in line to match the bid if over the set amount
1

LegendofthePhoenix added 13:19 - Nov 15 none of us know for certain what the "buyback" clause is. However what would make sense commercially for both ITFC and Man City would be that if, and only if, we choose to sell him, then City would either get 20% of the fee as a sell on, or they could opt to but him for 20% less than the fee (which compensates for the loss of sell on) , so e.g. we agree a fee of £70M with Juve, City can either step in and buy him for £56M, or let the deal proceed and get £14M as a sell on. That would be my guess as to how it works. But I just hope we keep him for a long time yet.

1

Oldsmoker added 13:32 - Nov 15 Legendofthephoenix That appears to be the same arrangement as the Jaden Philogene deal. Hull agreed to sell so Aston Villa had the option to buy back and they did. If Town just say No and don't want to sell then if it is similar to the Hull deal then nothing happens.
1

BluJu added 13:51 - Nov 15 From City's perspective, another reason to have such a clause is that they effectively get to ensure that a rival club [to them] isn't able to sign him without their say so. So although they may be entitled to say, 20% of any fee, they may opt to actually buy him for 20% less instead to stop the sale, regardless of whether he was their own target signing. Less likely if it did turn out to be a club like Juve having a bid accepted. Thankfully the player of course has a say in the matter too.

0

BobbyBell added 13:52 - Nov 15 Hopefully the value of our players will increase more and more, We no longer have to sell our best players.
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Dissboyitfc added 14:37 - Nov 15 There certainly seems a lot more to dislike about the modern game, made more obvious by the fact we are in the top flight. Also LD would a have a say if he wants to rejoin Man City, he might not want to with them potentially getting relegated! Fingers crossed!
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Marinersnose added 15:18 - Nov 15 Delap won’t be moving anywhere in January regardless of the offer. As a club we don’t need to sell anyone unless it benefits the club and or the player. If we are unlucky enough to finish in the bottom three then I believe things will be different as players will possibly prefer the PL option. Much fuss about nothing. Good players attract admiration from other clubs.

1

midastouch added 15:49 - Nov 15 It feels like heaven having strikers like Delap and Hirst after enduring those dark years with underwhelming forwards like Varney and Sammon!
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Ipswichbusiness added 17:52 - Nov 15 It is inevitable that top clubs, both here and abroad, will take an interest in our best players; that’s football. It should be in the player’s best interests that he stays here for the whole season and, if we stay up, next season. If we are relegated then things could get difficult.
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shropshiretractor added 02:38 - Nov 16 @midastouch is right... Varney and Sammon... We've gone from shopping at the local charity shop to shopping at Harrods! Look at Hutchinson, Davies and Delap. 2 years ago, none of us would be saying that this Ipswich team would have 3 future England starters in our 11... We were worried about staying in league 1 for a prolonged period! This is all down the the structure in place. The owners are humble enough to delegate to footballing men who know what they are doing (and good old Ed, who's there for the good time!)

1

Bluedandy added 07:32 - Nov 16 Every top club in Europe with a shred of scouting credibility will be looking at a 21 year old highly gifted bulldozer who has already scored 6 goals in his first 11 top flight games. The chances of him quitting the world's richest and most watched domestic league for life in Turin with a club that consistently struggles to fill its stadium are roughly zilch.
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SpiritOfJohn added 08:31 - Nov 16 Of course he is attracting attention. He reminds me of a young Ronaldo (the Brazilian sensation), so he is bound to be interesting many other clubs. Hopefully, he will keep his feet on the ground and realise that Ipswich is the best place for his development.
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