Amorim needs INEOS to ‘go against transfer strategy’ to sign ‘budget-friendly’ alternative to Liam Delap
Ruben Amorim has reportedly asked INEOS to ‘go against their transfer strategy’ at Manchester United in order to sign a ‘budget-friendly’ alternative to Ipswich’s Liam Delap.
United currently sit 14th in the Premier League table having won just ten of their 34 games this season, with the Europa League their only saving grace.
The Red Devils travel to take on Athletic Club in the first leg of their semi-final on Thursday, with victory over them and then either Tottenham or Bodo/Glimt in the final resulting in silverware and entry into the Champions League next season.
Qualification for Europe’s showpiece competition will be crucial both in attracting top players to join the club and in order to have the budget required to sign them, but even so, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS penny-pinchers won’t be handing Amorim a huge pot of cash to perform what needs to be significant surgery on the squad this summer.
With that in mind they’ve been heavily linked with a move for Delap, who’s impressed for Ipswich with 12 Premier League goals despite their relegation this season, in their bid to sign an alternative to goal-shy pair Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
Ipswich’s relegation means Delap’s release clause is set at just £30m, a very reasonable price for a player of his quality.
But that reasonable price has predictably led multiple Premier League clubs to be linked with the 22-year-old, including Chelsea and Newcastle, whose competition for his signature has led United to consider alternatives.
They’re thought to be admirers of Eintracht Frankfurt talisman Hugo Ekitike and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, but respective £85m and £60m price tags are likely beyond United’s means, with their salaries also thought to be providing a significant obstacle.
They could instead move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick as a ‘budget-friendly solution’, although a move for the striker – who has two years left on his contract – would mean INEOS having to break their recruitment rules.
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A report from GIVEMESPORT claims United believe Schick has been identified as an ‘attainable alterantive to Delap’, though may also face competition for his signature with Real Madrid also circling around the striker, who has a price tag of around £34m.
United have been attracted by ‘Schick’s experience and proven record in front of goal’ with the Czech international scoring 79 goals in 165 Bayer Leverkusen appearances.
He’s seen as a ‘budget-friendly solution’ if they can’t land Delap, but it’s added that United would be ‘going against their transfer strategy’ if they did sign the 29-year-old, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS making clear their desire to sign young talent whose value can increase at Old Trafford.
