After spearheading Town’s maiden home Premier League win against Chelsea, Liam Delap dampened down speculation he might be set for a January move, saying he is “just focused on Ipswich” and acknowledging how he is continuing to improve under manager Kieran McKenna and his coaching staff. 

The 21-year-old notched his seventh goal of the campaign after winning and then confidently dispatching Town’s first penalty of the season 12 minutes into last night’s Portman Road encounter.

He then played a big part in setting up Omari Hutchinson for the second in the 53rd minute which sealed a memorable 2-0 victory over the fourth-placed side to leave the Blues a point from safety with 15 at the halfway stage.

The player who signed for a reported initial £15 million rising to £20m from Manchester City in the summer, following his loan spell in the Championship with Hull City, has drawn wide praise from pundits for his powerful all-action displays this season.

While analysing the 1-1 home draw with Manchester United on November 24th for BBC’s Match of the Day 2, Danny Murphy described him as England captain and Bayern Munich star Harry Kane’s “obvious long-term successor” saying he is “the best young English striker out there”.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca had used his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Suffolk to also wax lyrical about a player he worked closely with having worked with him during his time heading Manchester City’s elite development squad.

The England U21s international has been linked with a return to his former club, who are understood to have have an option to match any bid accepted by the Blues, among other top sides including Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Italian giants Juventus.

But asked if he had been able to block out all the noise linking him with a big move away from Portman Road, with the January transfer window about to open, and focus on his game, he replied: “Yes, I don't really look at things like that. So, yes, I'm just focused on Ipswich.”

With both Hutchinson [Arsenal then Chelsea] also having come out of a big four club’s academy before demonstrating what they can do on the Premier League stage with a move to a newly promoted club, he said: “As a young player, you just want to go and play football.

“We're lucky to be playing in the Premier League. I think we've got a great opportunity here at Ipswich and we're just trying to show our ability week in, week out, that's a big plus for me.”

Town’s FA Cup and UEFA Cup-winning captain Mick Mills described Delap’s swashbuckling display in his match summary on BBC Radio Suffolk as one of the best centre forward performances he has ever witnessed from a Blues player at Portman Road.

Asked if he ranked it as one of his top outings in what has become a breakthrough season in the Premier League, Delap was keen to focus on his team-mates.

“Individually but collectively as well,” he said. “I think everyone that started and came on had a really good and important role to play and everyone executed that terrifically, and that's why we got the three points.”

Summing up his season so far, having now hit the halfway stage with seven Premier League goals to his name after ending a six-game wait to find the target, he was quick to acknowledge the role McKenna and his coaching staff have played.

 “I think I had the confidence coming here under the manager and the staff, the way they play and how he [McKenna] was going to improve me,” he said. 

“All the staff and the manager have really helped me improve and I think I’ve improved a lot in recent weeks. 

“I think I've still got more to come. Obviously, I'm happy as an individual, but I think I can still do more and we need to just keep pushing.”

Of ending his six-game goalless streak, the 21-year-old said it was a great feeling. 

“It is always nice to score and Omari’s done really well for his goal as well, so yes, we're proud.”

Having linked up with his England U21s international team-mate for the second goal, after pouncing on a loose pass from Axel Disasi, he feels there is a relationship which is continuing to build for the benefit of club and country.

“We're both a similar age, we're both new to the Premier League and I think the more we're playing with each other, the more we understand each other and we are building a really good connection,” he said.

It was an extra special night for Hutchinson, who celebrated his 53rd-minute goal with a trademark backflip against his former employers, and Delap said: “Obviously coming through their youth system it’s probably a game that he wants to play in even more and to perform like he did tonight. We all know he's that good a player and he's just shown how good he is tonight.”

After waiting 10 games to finally wrap-up their first Premier League home win in the last game of 2024, Delap hailed it as a team effort which duly delivered a just reward to their patient fans. 

“It was a terrific performance from everyone that played and that win’s been coming for a long time so it was good to finally get it,” he said.

“I think the performances that we've been putting in probably deserve it. 

“We've conceded late goals and not probably finished our chances as well as we should have.

“But tonight we showed that every part of our game was really good and we finally gave the fans what they deserve.”

Delap believes the first home win can be a springboard for Town’s survival push with the Blues up to 18th, one place and one point from safety directly behind Wolves ahead of a trip to eighth-placed Fulham on Sunday (KO 2pm).

“Yes, 100 per cent,” he insisted. “I think it doesn't probably change much; we've performed really well in games here this season and it just probably hasn't gone for us, but tonight I think everything went for us.

“So, yes, we can just build on that and keep getting better with our performances and hopefully we'll get a few more.”

Chelsea had only tasted defeat three times in their 18 Premier League matches heading into the year-ending clash and despite their manager Enzo Maresca playing it down, the West Londoners were being talked about as genuine title contenders.

And Delap and his team-mates had been left in no doubt that they had to put in a top-drawer performance to give themselves a chance of breaking their home duck in the top flight before the curtain came down on 2024.

“We know the quality of the opposition, they've got some incredible players, so we know that if we slip up just once then they can capitalise,” he said. “We know the importance of keeping concentration throughout every minute.”

On the intimidating atmosphere Chelsea’s superstars found themselves having to deal with at Portman Road as almost 27,000 home fans roared every touch as their side burst out of the traps, with noise levels only increasing once they got in front from Delap’s spot-kick, he said: “We know whoever we play here, they're going to not like it. The fans and the intensity we play at is really good. We know anyone that turns up here is going to have a tough night.”

Delap also acknowledged Christian Walton’s big performance in goal, the former Brighton man having come in for regular number one Aro Muric for what was only his second Premier League start for Town, the last being the first day of the season against Liverpool with the latter injured.

He said: “I think not just him, but everyone [played a big part]. We’re so lucky to have two excellently-talented goalkeepers. 

“Aro’s done really well in recent weeks and it just shows how well we train and how switched on everyone is because he's not played in a while. To come in and perform like that is terrific.

“It's just credit to him and credit to his work ethic over the last few months where he's not been playing.”

Photo: Matchday Images

fifeblue added 12:35 - Dec 31 Liam Delap came to Ipswich to improve as a player under Kieran McKenna and, more importantly, to play regularly. Why would he go so soon to a club like Chelsea (or City, Liverpool, Juventus) where he would not be guaranteed a starting place? The only way he will develop into a top player, as many people are saying he will, is to continue to develop by playing every match for Ipswich under possibly the best coaching set up in the country. When he eventually pulls on his England shirt for the time, it will be as a player for Ipswich Town.

46

John_Grose added 12:42 - Dec 31 Awesome performance by Delap. Champagne moment was at 2-0 when Omari passed to him on halfway and he ran with 3 or 4 Chelsea defenders in his wake and somehow still got a great shot away from a tight angle that then led to 3 corners in a row which pretty much took all remaining fight out of the Chelsea players. Brilliant signing and excellent performance.
50

Gazelle added 12:43 - Dec 31 Great news, and after last nights performance our fans won’t be leaving either.
5

Itfcsam27 added 12:48 - Dec 31 He'll be loved by Ipswich fans. Won't get those levels of affection with Chelsea or whoever else. Chelsea have such a big squad too. So glad we got him instead of Broja
12

blues1 added 12:55 - Dec 31 Sorry to put a dampener on it, but when a player says they're just concentrating on the club they're at, doesn't always mean they aren't going to leave. End of the day, what else is he gonna say? " I'm leaving"? Of course not. Hopefully he isn't going anywhere, at least until the end of the season anyway. But nothing in football would surprise me at the end of day. Every player has his price. Fingers crossed tho.

2

gosblue added 13:07 - Dec 31 I think Delap, Hirst and Al-Hamadi would benefit from the arrival of an experienced striker to pass on some of the trade secrets of playing at the highest level. Look how well our younger midfielders have come on with Morsey and Phillips in the squad. Some of what you can pick up from those senior players just can't be coached.
2

BobbyBell added 13:11 - Dec 31 At just 21 he has a long career ahead. Staying here for a couple of seasons will give him plenty of matches to learn and improve. Sitting on a bench elsewhere at such a young age would do him no good at all. This club is going places even if we don't survive this season we will continue to develop and grow as a club.
11

Dissboyitfc added 13:16 - Dec 31 Well grounded with a very mature footballing brain, only going to get better especially if he stays! I love him, edges it as my favourite player!
3

Dissboyitfc added 13:16 - Dec 31 Well grounded with a very mature footballing brain, only going to get better especially if he stays! I love him, edges it as my favourite player!
0

Flamencaman added 14:01 - Dec 31 Hopefully Dad keeps his feet on the ground,along with McK and staff
6

Suffolkboy added 14:23 - Dec 31 LD is maturing in every respect ! His interviews show what intelligence and thoughtfulness he exercises and give no substantive indication he’s becoming ‘impatient’ to move on . Every ambitious individual will inevitably look to the future ,but Delap seems inspired and driven by the coaching and experience he’s gaining ! — as well as the opportunities to demonstrate his blossoming talent ! KM is so experienced in dealing with ‘ambition’ and encouraging personal development , it’d be a tremendous surprise if any ‘outgoings’ not of design occurred . COYB

4

Westy added 15:07 - Dec 31 I cannot believe any player would sign for a club in July and leave in January.
0

flykickingbybgunn added 15:57 - Dec 31 McKenna is the man to improve and encourage him. Ipswich is the club that will give him the chance to put that into practise on the pitch. He would be mad to move just now. 2 years time will see his value and wages triple.
2

bringmeaKuqi added 16:07 - Dec 31 I'm sure Liam will do the sums and realise that a full season being a first choice number 9 and playing 80 minutes a game will do far more for his career than sitting on Chelsea's bench. I think we might struggle to keep him in the summer though and more teams will be in the market. We do need to find a back up for him though, and a reason people are sniffing around Delap is because there are not many options out there. I really think we need to go back in for ionnidis in Jan. Good profile, physical. Latte Lath would be good too, but different type of player to Delap

0

Karlosfandangal added 17:31 - Dec 31 No one really knows but it’s “reported “ that he on 20k a week so a team offering 100k a week might well turn a players head. Even if he is improving under KmK money still talks……..could be a new contract coming up but that could depend on which division Town are in
1

dirtydingusmagee added 19:55 - Dec 31 Hopefully Liam will stay but if he does feel the need to move i hope its in the summer
0

planetblue_2011 added 20:16 - Dec 31 Surely Delap will be double his price when we signed him. Thing is we don’t need to sell him & where is a replacement for him? It’s definitely not in England. Can’t see him going anywhere only if we go down but the Chelsea game has given everyone, fans & at the club we can survive. COYBS
2

DannyITFC added 20:52 - Dec 31 Can’t see him being allowed to leave in January and he has a chance to progress at Ipswich instead of sit on the bench at a bigger club (just ask Kalvin Phillips how that went for his career). That said if we do go down he will stay in the premier league and you can’t really deny him that chance, but my god he would attract a huge figure now.
1

Beattiesballbag added 22:46 - Dec 31 The problem you have now with players are their agents, if he is on £1,040,000 a year, & is offered £5,200,000 a year, his agent is going to be bending his ear so he can get a slice of that. The agent doesn't care if he is playing football, they just want their client to earn as much as possible.
2

ringwoodblue added 09:15 - Jan 1 Although concerning, it’s good to finally have some players who are attracting interest from top teams. Hopefully, he will stay for the rest of the season and if we stay up, maybe even longer
3

Bramidan added 12:15 - Jan 1 Hopefully he will chat to Phillips about moving to “big “ clubs. Perhaps others in the game will also point to Grealish who is never the player he once was. Moving clubs might mean he’s sitting on the bench rather than playing.
2

Eeyore added 15:39 - Jan 1 Pep: “great to have you back Liam. We’ve doubled your wages. Now here’s you train ticket to Huddersfield Town”
0

Linkboy13 added 16:27 - Jan 1 Liam's a very talented player but still a way off being an England player with a lot to learn and the best manager to learn off is Keiran McKenna. But of course if we get relegated he would be on his way and who can blame him. I see there's rumours that we are trying to sign Red Star Saltsburg right back Amar Dedic 23 years old . Seen videos and he's very exciting going forward but like all signings a risk and would need time to settle.

0

Alphawhiskey added 12:44 - Jan 2 I'm sure if Brentford managed to keep Ivan Toney for so long, we can keep this fella for a couple of seasons, or at least until the end of the current season.
0

Lord_Mac added 15:04 - Jan 2 It's not down to him - or Chelsea. We are not a selling club. From the Ipswich point of view, however much we got for him, less what we'd have to pay Man City, it wouldn't match what it would cost to be relegated. Equally, if he wanted to leave and we didn't allow it, and he got huffy as a result, that would cost him long-term (not that it's likely). So I cannot see any circumstances whereby he will leave before the summer at least.

1

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls