Manager Kieran McKenna has reiterated that Town have no interest in star striker Liam Delap going anywhere during the January transfer window.

Delap, 21, has made a huge impression since joining the club from Manchester City for an initial £15 million in the summer with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, Spurs, Manchester United and his former club all linked.

McKenna says the speculation is inevitable and sees it as a plus, a reflection of the England U21 international’s form.

“I think it's a good thing,” he insisted. “It's certainly a positive thing. It's a credit to Liam first and foremost in terms of the work that he's done for his career, but certainly arriving here in the summer and the improvements that he's made over the last six months that he's been here.

“And it's a credit to the group. I always say that it's a very, very good group to come into. It's a group that players come into, feel welcomed, and get pushed to get better. I don't think it's a coincidence that so many young players have come here and pushed on. I think that's a credit to the whole group and it's a credit to the staff who are working really, really hard with him. 

“But there's going to be interest in our players, going to be interest in Liam. It would be a lot more strange if there wasn't with how he's performing and how he's developing at the moment alongside some other players.

“So it's not something that we're paying particular attention to, and I know he isn't as well, but it's a good sign that he's doing a good job.”

McKenna reiterates that neither the club nor Delap, who is contracted to the Blues until 2019, are looking at parting ways during this transfer window.

“In terms of January, we’ve got no interest in anything other than Liam being at the football club and he’s got no interest in putting focus into anything other than playing for Ipswich Town at the moment and trying to get better every week,” he said.

“Other than that, I think, as a football club, we need to take pride that players are coming here, players are improving and the best teams in the world are going to be looking at some of our players because of the level that they’re operating at, and Liam’s certainly one of those, and not the only one.

“I think that’s something that, as a club, we should be really, really proud of, but certainly at this current time, everyone’s eyes are fully focused on having a strong second half of the season here.”

As well as his prowess in front of goal, Delap, who has scored seven times this season, has also shown his darts ability, throwing a 140 on a club social media video.

Asked whether he was aware that his striker had that string to his bow, McKenna laughed: “I think there are plenty of things that he, I don't want to say he can't do, but he can't do as well yet as what he would like to be able to do and as well as we would like him to be able to do. 

“He's improving. I didn't know about the darts, but as I said, he's a good lad. He's enjoyable to work with and he's getting better all the time.”

McKenna says he will be looking at adding to his forward ranks with the Blues short of a number nine having pulled out of the deal to sign Armando Broja in the summer and with George Hirst still on the way back from his knee injury.

Town are also in need of additions behind the number nine with Chiedozie Ogbene out for most or all of the rest of the season with an achilles injury.

“I think it's an area that we need to add to,” McKenna continued. “It's an area that we wanted to add to in the summer window.

“Earlier in the summer, we made some good additions, but we still would have liked maybe to add one or two more pieces in the summer in the forward areas.

“And then George Hirst has missed maybe 11 or 12 of the 19 league games we've had. So that's a big loss and it has put a lot of burden on Liam Delap as a really young striker. Thankfully, he's handled that burden well.

“But we still want to add in different areas of the pitch and we want to add more goals in the forward area if possible.”

Photo: Reuters and Matchday Images

MickMillsTash added 15:50 - Jan 3 Contracted to 2019 ?? Sounds like a new contract might be wise - give hime some extra cash and Town a bigger buy out - an unplayable 21 English year old centre forward - 80 or 100 Mill with top ups?
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ellaandred added 15:51 - Jan 3 Contracted until 2019 ?
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chorltonskylineblue added 15:57 - Jan 3 Typo, it's 2029. We signed him on a 5 year contract
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bluejacko added 16:40 - Jan 3 It doesn’t matter what KM says there will still be people going on about selling him.
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Suffolkboy added 16:56 - Jan 3 As ever KM really downplays the truly significant role he and his staff are playing,and gives credit to the individual players .Do we expect otherwise ? — NO ,but let’s not underestimate ever the enormous contribution our Management Team ,from the very top down have made to the transformation of our super club - ITFC ! The quality of the decision making remains now beyond question ,and it’s self evident that forward planning and effective action plans continue to take us forward .Short termism doesn’t enter into it ! Onwards ! COYB

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flykickingbybgunn added 17:25 - Jan 3 I hope he sees his contract out. That or it is renewed at least by 2028. Let him be like Crawford, Mariner or Stewart.
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OldFart71 added 17:51 - Jan 3 It's a case of being realistic. If he continues his upward curve someone will come in with an offer we can't refuse and they won't be carrying a violin case. Currently he is carrying our forward line with some help from Omari, but not much else. Neither Ali or Connor are perhaps good enough, especially Ali, Hirst is injured and Broadhead whilst an excellent player isn't a prolific goalscorer. That also applies to Burns. Getting seven goals in a struggling team and that's no slight on our achievements is pretty good and bound to draw attention. Teams like Liverpool who have Salah who hasn't signed a new contract and maybe has one or two more seasons in him, if he signs would be on the prowl and Man Utd might be another.

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Bazza8564 added 18:05 - Jan 3 LD stays here! If we don't survive and someone comes in with 60m next summer then the business element comes in but contracted to 2029 with no need to sell players the last thing we should be thinking about on this window is big players moving on, and we won't. MA isnt rebuilding this club to faff about in the Championship and theres no way he is thinking about anything else at the moment about strengthening in January and reaping £175m next summer by staying up, and then how best we invest it

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SickParrot added 18:11 - Jan 3 I'm sure that Liam isn't looking to leave us yet and the club don't want to sell him but big money could be on the table. All offers in this window must be refused however, because if Liam is allowed to go in January any chance we have of staying up will go with him. If he helps us to avoid relegation maybe he can be persuaded to stay for another year but if he does move on in the summer at least we would have some time to try find a replacement.

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RobsonWark added 19:37 - Jan 3 Is there anything that Liam Delap in not good at?
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RobsonWark added 19:39 - Jan 3 Mark Ashton said a few months ago that we are no longer a selling club. Only players that we want to sell will be sold. Simples.
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