Town boss Kieran McKenna is not ruling out Liam Delap remaining at the Blues beyond the end of this season, despite the striker’s release clause of £30 million in the event of relegation.

Delap appears certain to move on from Portman Road in the summer with several clubs showing an interest in Town’s 12-goal top scorer in England and overseas.

Chelsea and Manchester United are understood to be leading the chase for the 22-year-old, while Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Liverpool and Juventus are also believed to be monitoring the England U21 international.

Delap’s former side Manchester City are also known to have included a 20 per cent sell-on in the deal to sign the forward for an initial £15 million last summer.

McKenna says Delap is fully enjoying his time in Suffolk and claims it is not impossible the striker remains at the club this summer.

“It's not something that's been discussed loads internally at the moment because everyone's focus has been on Bournemouth, Wolves and now Chelsea,” he said.

“If you ask me is that a possibility, I think it's certainly a possibility. Liam's a young striker, he's developing really well at the football club, he's happy and is improving every week and we're enjoying working with him.

“I'm sure there's lots of different possibilities but Liam's an Ipswich player, he enjoys being an Ipswich player and that's where his full focus is.”

Delap’s release clause is set at £30 million in the event of the Blues’ likely relegation to the Championship, news that has led to lots of speculation around the striker’s future.

But McKenna has not paid attention to any external noise surrounding his talisman, instead suggesting it would be more strange if there was not any talk given the successful season Delap is having.

He said: “I've not seen much of it, to be honest. I'm pretty good at blocking it out but it's definitely a stage for really blocking it all out and focusing on ourselves.

“I think there's been chat about Liam all season, if there hadn't been it would be very unusual. He's done fantastically well, there's very few like him in world football and he's only going to get better.

“If there wasn't a lot of chat, if there wasn't a lot of clubs linked and interested then I'd be questioning the sanity of all the other clubs. It's a good thing for us, it's a good thing for the club.

“Liam's very happy here, he's developing well and that's where his focus is. He picked up a really heavy knock on Saturday in the game so he's missed some training this week, but I know his full focus is on getting ready to help the team and help the team in the last seven games.”

On the timing of the news, McKenna added: “I have no interest. Probably if I go through the papers, Arsenal are probably linked as well who we play the week after. Newcastle as well, I haven't seen it but I'm guessing.

“If there was any Premier League club who wouldn't like to have Liam Delap in their team or their squad, I'd be questioning them.”
Delap has widely been praised by many throughout the course of the season and McKenna was asked whether the extra attention puts any more pressure on the striker.

“It's the same for any player,” he said. “What's really important is what your teammates think of you, what your family and support network from a football perspective think of you, and what your manager and coaching staff think you're doing well on and what you can improve.

“External noise, whether that's building you up and praising you, or external noise that's criticising you, has to be of minimum relevance relative to the important feedback that you can get.

“Liam gets praised here and he gets plenty of criticism and plenty of areas to improve. He also gets that at home, I'm pretty sure, and he gets that from the people around him and he gets that from a fantastic group of teammates that he's got.

“That's the feedback that I know he listens to and that he focuses on. That's the feedback and the environment that's helped him improve across the season. That would be the way of thinking and the support network that will help him have the career that hopefully he'll have.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Suffolkboy added 16:09 - Apr 11 Bang on ! COYB
2

BlueInBerks added 16:14 - Apr 11 Not too surprised by this. He wants to play football week in week out and not sit on a bench of one of the top clubs, and frankly he is unproven at the highest level and can improve. He could have an absolutely storming season in the Champ and his value continue to rise, all whilst enjoying the ride in Suffolk.
6

RobITFC added 16:22 - Apr 11 Very diplomatic , hope so but very much doubt it!
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trevski_s added 16:27 - Apr 11 He's right, every top league team should be interested. Even if a bid comes in and it has to get automatically accepted because of the clause, at the end of the day its down to Delap and if he doesn't want to move, he won't
1

Gforce added 16:32 - Apr 11 Would love it if he stays ,but I'd be very very surprised. Someone like Chelsea will come in for him,offer him an eight year deal (which they do with all their promising youngsters) treble his wages and he'll be off,guaranteed.
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Denny32 added 16:33 - Apr 11 Well 3 things come in to play here...1.its up to the owners if they can afford to keep him..2..if they up his wages ,which at the end of the day is what players love lol ..and 3.if the 30 mill release clause comes and delap is free to call the shots ,but as other comment has quite rightly said. Unless He guaranteed to start. He may not want to go ..and prefer have his higher wages here and be on the starting 11..he is still very young..

0

SpiritOfJohn added 17:01 - Apr 11 Why does Delap "appear certain to move on"? Have you asked him? I have no doubt he will have the opportunity to go, but it is up to Delap himself. I hope he stays.
5

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:04 - Apr 11 If he stays , a season older and wiser he will tear up the Championship.
2

Chondzoresk added 17:14 - Apr 11 Imagine him scoring his fourth of the game……at Carrot Road……sending them down to League 1.
8

WestSussexBlue added 17:39 - Apr 11 If he stays, and I think it’s personally unlikely but if he did, he would have an absolute field day in the Championship. It would be like the season Murphy had with 30 odd goals.
1

Leejames99 added 18:03 - Apr 11 I really do think his release clause is after 2 seasons and most likely no drop in wage. He is priceless in terms of getting back up, its only 9 months, he just seems to enjoy the game, he lives with his team mates, they play for England together, Man City Academy together with some, Hull with some.i think he may just want to be part of something special here, why cant Ipswich have next Harry Kane. Go get Macatee from Man City next pleass.

0

joyousblue added 18:23 - Apr 11 I think ifcthere wasnt a world cup coming up hed stay , but if he wants to be in the squad i dont think tuchel will pick below the prem
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ringwoodblue added 18:26 - Apr 11 The harsh reality is that if he wants to get into the England squad, he needs to be playing in the PL.
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Karlosfandangal added 19:39 - Apr 11 I have said I could see him staying at Town, However if he is offered silly money per week I would expect him to leave. Difficult one really as I would play Hirst if Delap was expected to go and use Delap as a sub, only in the fact to give Hirst more time to get form partnership with the team mate for next season.
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RobsonWark added 20:23 - Apr 11 After the season he is having I hope Ashton offers him a new contract with a pay rise obviously. He would be amazing in the Championship if our attacking players and midfield deliver the same performance as they did last season. I can see him scoring 30+ goals.
2

bucket99 added 22:08 - Apr 11 This whole piece is a) inevitable, and b) devoid of news. Trouble is, Phil has to report it, because every other news outlet wants a headline and they all jump on it at the same tme. All season, when Liam has been interviewed he has made a point of saying how much Kieran is improving him as a player. Imagine being him, and knowing that there will be 46 games next season against non-PL defences. He could get 30, 40, 50 goals. Us and Forest used to have a reputation for selling good players who didn't/couldn't perform for their new club. Jason Dozzell, Richard Wright, Mauricio Taricco and many before them, in our case. Their post-ITFC careers, for various reasons, didn't work out. He's only just turned 22, I hope he stays.

0

Cloddyseedbed added 09:29 - Apr 12 If Delap does go to a premiership club he will be a part bit player, not good for his development at his age. Is that what he would want to be?
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BobbyBell added 11:21 - Apr 12 I'd love to see him stay and develop. He could have an amazing season and his confidence would rocket. It's got to be better than sitting on a bench and playing a few cup games. I know money talks but this lad loves playing football. Too many promising youngsters fade away through lack of playing time whilst earning big money and never reach their true potential.
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Cervantes added 14:45 - Apr 12 At the end of it all, Liam will be the one who decides whether or not he will move on. Good luck to him if he does, but I'd love to see him stay.
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blueasfook added 13:40 - Apr 23 There is not a cat's chance in hell Delap will still be with us next season!
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