Amorim Will be Secretly Happy as Man Utd Transfer Expected to Collapse

Sign in to your GiveMeSport accountManchester United’s pursuit of Liam Delap might be in tatters after their Europa League final defeat, but Ruben Amorim will actually be secretly pleased if a deal falls through. Delap has been at the top of the Red Devils’ striker wishlist ahead of the summer transfer window amid the club’s desperate need for a new number nine. Chelsea are also long-term admirers and are interested in the Englishman amid a fine season at Ipswich Town. United were in pole position to sign the 22-year-old ahead of their Europa League final because a win would have achieved Champions League qualification next season. But Amorim’s men suffered a 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, casting significant doubts over winning the race for Delap. Man Utd-Delap Deal Collapsing Is Amorim’s Silver Lining The Portuguese coach prefers a different profile Delap is available for £30m following Ipswich’s relegation, which has put United and Chelsea on red alert. The Reds have spoken to the player regarding a move, per Fabrizio Romano on GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness. No European football at Old Trafford next season means the Blues are now favourites, per ESPN. Interest largely stems from technical director Jason Wilcox, who worked with the player at the Etihad, while Amorim isn’t as fond. The under-pressure United coach would reportedly rather sign an established number nine than a prospect, and his preference is his former Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres. A deal for the £55m-rated Swede seems just as unlikely now because the club failed to clinch Champions League football next season. Delap is an exciting English talent who has caught the eye throughout his first campaign in the top flight. But he’s not the finished article, and Amorim may feel a move screams of deja-vu regarding recruiting young prospects instead of ready-made goalscorers, which he desperately needs. Amorim’s predecessor, Erik ten Hag, was often heavily criticised for spending £72m on Rasmus Hojlund, who has stumbled under the pressure of being his side’s first-choice number nine. The Dutch coach has insisted he “wanted Harry Kane” and that Hojlund should have been given time to develop alongside the England captain. Liam Delap vs Rasmus Hojlund – Premier League 2024-25 Player: Delap Hojlund Appearances: 36 31 Goals: 12 4 Expected goals (xG): 9.31 5.15 Big chances missed: 10 6 Goal conversion: 18% 13% Assists: 2 0 Ground duels won: 2.8 (36%) 1.3 (35%) Aerial duels won: 1.6 (43%) 0.9 (24%) While Delap isn’t as expensive and would definitely be an upgrade on Hojlund, it still places similar pressure on his shoulders regarding leading the line. Sir Jim Ratcliffe spoke about finding “the next Mbappe” rather than “spending a fortune on success” when becoming co-owner. However, there isn’t enough time for the Red Devils to implement a long-term plan when one of the biggest clubs in world football is sitting 16th in the Premier League and their main striker has four goals in 31 outings. With experienced options out there, such as free agent Jamie Vardy, it’s time to recruit for now rather than the future. All statistics courtesy of SofaScore – correct as of 23.05.2025 Sign up to The GIVEMESPORT Report to get exclusive daily updates from Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, Dean Jones and Tom Bogert sent straight to your inbox RelatedMan United’s New ‘B List’ of 4 Striker Targets After Europa League DefeatThe shortlist contains seven players that have been split into two categories.