Blues striker Liam Delap’s relegation release clause, which seems certain to be activated this summer, is reportedly £30 million.

The existence of clauses in the £15 million-plus-£5 million-top-ups deal Town agreed with Manchester City last summer have been known since the time of the move, but with Blues CEO Mark Ashton keeping his cards close to his chest when quizzed on them recently.

Now, according to The Guardian, should Town go down, which barring a miracle they are set to do, the 22-year-old will be available for £30 million, not the higher figures which have previously been rumoured.

City are known to have included a 20 per cent sell-on in the deal, thereby further reducing the sum the Blues will receive for their 12-goal top scorer.

As previously reported, Chelsea and Manchester United, whose technical director Jason Wilcox knows the England U21 international from his time at the Etihad, are leading the chase for Delap, who has caught the eye of top clubs in England and also Europe in an outstanding first season in the top flight.

Tottenham were reported to have sent a scout to watch him at the weekend, while Newcastle and Liverpool are also believed to have shown interest, along with Juventus.

City are widely known to have included a buy-back clause in the deal but are not understood to be eyeing a reunion this summer.

Photo: Matchday Images

Dissboyitfc added 07:16 - Apr 11 Philpott 2 agreed with your comments but will add a couple of other strikers that we signed that did ok for us, David Johnson the second and a signing that became a fans favourite, shefki Kuqi from Sheffield weds reserves. And you’re right no one knew how well this signing would turn out, could have been so different . Dont think Philogene will double in value in his first full season! Signing Delap on the deal we gave him hardly goes down as bad business!

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BangaloreBlues added 07:41 - Apr 11 I thought I understood release clauses, but after reading all the comments on here I realise there are at least 23,857 different explanations for them. @ Lee James You are definitely 100% autistic level one (AKA Asperger's). That is an observation and not a criticism. If you didn't know that you do now. If you already knew that great, if you didn't I've just changed your life for the better. You're welcome.

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Edmundo added 08:53 - Apr 11 I think Blueboy has some PTSD from 2002 lingering. Relegation is not a good scenario, but we are going to be fine.
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Linkboy13 added 09:39 - Apr 11 If it's been reported by the Evening Star that the buy back clause is 30 million than that is correct unlike the major tabloids they do not report speculation. Our dealings in the transfer market have been a disaster in general. Buying players that are physically not up to the Premier league and never will be. And whoever agreed to these buy back clauses needs sacking no good to the club whatsoever. Delap will leave playing in the championship will be no good to his development at all. He won't be sitting on the bench if he does join a major club as some numpties have mentioned he will be loaned out to another Premier league side to further his development.

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Wakh added 09:55 - Apr 11 The add ons are would include us staying up and the sell on clause to city would be based on our profit, not the purchase cost. We won't be making just £9m. Consider most folks were a little disappointed in his initial signing, thinking we paid too much. Having the benefit of hindsight is not a qualification to diss the deal.
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Tractorboy58 added 10:21 - Apr 11 I believe that the release clause means that Delap could go if the £30m bid is reached BUT I am sure that if several clubs bid higher then we take that higher offer and then pay Man City 20% of the extra over the £30m - I am certain that several clubs will bid upwards of £50m - and if we are not happy then we keep him
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Ipswichbusiness added 13:40 - Apr 11 The only people who KNOW what his contract says are those who have read it. Everything else is hearsay, speculation and tittle tattle. Please remember that we are dealing with reality not fantasy football. That means that players will only sign for us if they want to; we cannot force anyone to sign. As newly promoted clubs are very likely to be relegated that means that quality players would have been reluctant to sign so the Club had to be prepared to offer inducements. One might be a release clause. It is not a criticism of the Club or Mark Ashton, but what has to be done to get deals over the line.

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