Liam Delap astronomical demand hands Chelsea transfer advantage over Man United and Tottenham

Chelsea and Tottenham are but the Ipswich Town forward is expected to demand astronomical wages, it has been claimed. The 22-year-old has impressed in his debut Premier League season, having scored 12 times in 33 matches for Kieran McKenna's side.

Delap, who joined Ipswich from Manchester City for £20million last summer, has a release clause in his contract that has been reduced to £30m following his club's relegation from the top flight. Ipswich's fate was confirmed after they were beaten 3-0 at Newcastle United on Saturday.

While Ipswich head coach McKenna admitted last week that Delap could still remain at Portman Road in the Championship next season, even despite the interest surrounding the England Under 21s international. Manchester United and Newcastle United are among the others keen on securing his signature.

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But if any interested club, including Chelsea and Tottenham, want to sign him this summer, they might need to make him one of their top earners. According to , Delap is expected to ask for wages between £120,000 to £150,000 per-week in any talks with rivals.

As Chelsea are reported to have eight players in excess of £150,000-a-week, the Blues have the potential to afford Delap's demand. That could give them an advantage over their rivals.

Chelsea are expected to strengthen their forward line this summer as they look to provide support and competition to first-choice No.9 Nicolas Jackson. The Blues have identified Delap as a target, with Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres also linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.

As for Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou's side are eager to bolster their ranks as they aim to improve on a dire Premier League season. Although Spurs have Dominic Solanke, who signed in a £65m deal from Bournemouth last summer, Delap would add more depth to their forward department.

"As I've said before, I think there's certainly a possibility that he's an Ipswich player next year. I don't think anything's decided in anyone's mind. But could Liam play for the biggest clubs in the country, the biggest clubs in the world? He certainly can. I fully believe that," McKenna revealed last Friday.

"He's already shown the impact he can have at Premier League level in a team that have really been fighting for everything. I think he can have an outstanding impact at this level."

McKenna also warned possible suitors that Delap has only had one season in the Premier League, adding: "But he's also very young and he's playing his first season of Premier League football.

"He's not played a huge amount of minutes as a leading striker in a team before, and with it he's still learning and getting better all the time.

"What's right for Liam? What's right for Ipswich? All those factors will come into play in the summer and the right decision will be made. But he's happy and he's developing really well here. He has the potential. I think he will, in his career, go on to do some really, really good things."