Connect with us

Football

Why Liam Delap snubbed Man Utd and signed for Chelsea

Published

on

Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, edging out rivals Manchester United and https://metro.co.uk/tag/manchester-city-fc/Newcastle in a fiercely competitive pursuit of the promising young striker.

The 22-year-old forward made the move from Manchester City to Ipswich last summer in a deal worth £15 million. Despite Ipswich suffering relegation from the Premier League, Delap’s individual performances stood out, scoring 12 goals across 42 matches and significantly boosting his reputation.

A key factor in his availability this summer has been a £30 million relegation clause in his contract, making him an attractive option for several top-flight clubs.

Chelsea’s qualification for next season’s Champions League, secured with a crucial victory over Nottingham Forest on the final day of the campaign, is understood to have played a pivotal role in convincing Delap to make the switch to Stamford Bridge.

His move is expected to be finalized soon as personal terms near completion.

Manchester United had also been strongly linked with Delap but now turn their attention to other targets to strengthen their attacking options.

Following their Europa League final loss to Tottenham, United failed to secure a place in any European competition and are preparing for a major squad overhaul.

A deal is already in place for Matheus Cunha, with Wolves granting permission for the Brazilian to undergo a medical after United triggered his £62.5 million release clause.

There is also interest in Viktor Gyokeres, particularly if Arsenal succeed in their pursuit of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.

United chief executive Omar Berrada has emphasized a balanced approach to the transfer window, combining financial prudence with the ambition to rebuild after one of the club’s most disappointing seasons since their relegation in 1973–74.

Missing out on Champions League football has cost the club an estimated £100 million in potential revenue, and the pressure is on to reshape the squad under manager Ruben Amorim.

Cunha appears to be the first major addition as United aim to return to the top tier of English football.

Berrada confirmed that technical director Jason Wilcox, Amorim, and the recruitment team have been preparing for various transfer scenarios for months and are now focused on executing a well-planned strategy.

Advertisements
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Football

Napoli-linked Sancho ‘attracting interest’ from new Serie A side

Published

on

By

Napoli-linked Sancho 'attracting interest' from new Serie A side

Juventus are reportedly set to compete with Napoli for the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer.

The 25-year-old is back at Old Trafford following a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he made a solid impact with five goals and 10 assists across 41 competitive appearances. He also found the net in Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory in last month’s Conference League final, though his efforts were not enough to convince the club to make the deal permanent.

Chelsea were initially expected to secure Sancho for £25 million as part of their loan agreement but ultimately chose to walk away from the obligation. As a result, they were required to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty fee.

Despite being under contract with United, Sancho is not considered part of manager Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans. If he fails to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, the winger is expected to be left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.

Juventus enter the race for Sancho

Napoli had previously emerged as the frontrunner for Sancho’s signature, with the player reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Serie A champions. However, a deal between Manchester United and Napoli has yet to be finalized.

According to Sky Sports News, Juventus have now entered the picture, exploring the financial and contractual terms of a potential move. The Turin-based side is seriously evaluating the opportunity to sign the England international, who has earned 23 senior caps.

Is Juventus the right fit for Sancho?

Juventus manager Igor Tudor is preparing for his first full season in charge after leading the team to a top-four finish last term. Known for deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, Tudor’s system does not traditionally utilize wide wingers like Sancho.

If he joins Juventus, Sancho would likely compete for one of the two attacking midfield spots behind the main striker—a role that currently sees strong competition from Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Nico Gonzalez. Unless one of these players is sold, Sancho might struggle to find regular playing time in Turin.

Napoli, on the other hand, could offer a more suitable environment for the former Borussia Dortmund star. With the club still looking to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed in January, Sancho may find more opportunities to thrive in his preferred position on the wing.

Advertisements
Continue Reading

Football

Flamengo punish 10-Man Chelsea in 3-1 Club World Cup stunner (Highlights)

Published

on

By

Flamengo 3-1 Chelsea

Nicolas Jackson endured a nightmare cameo as Chelsea collapsed in the second half against Flamengo during their FIFA Club World Cup clash, suffering a 3-1 defeat that puts their tournament hopes at risk.

Chelsea initially took the lead through Pedro Neto, whose composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs gave the Premier League side a promising start. However, the momentum quickly shifted after the break.

Flamengo responded in ruthless fashion, netting twice in quick succession. Substitute Bruno Henrique capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range, followed by another back-post finish from Danilo that stunned the Blues and put the Brazilian side ahead.

Matters worsened for Chelsea when substitute Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card just four minutes after entering the pitch.

His dangerous challenge saw his studs connect with Lucas Ayrton’s shin, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off immediately.

Flamengo sealed the win with a third goal, as Wallace Yan added the final blow to a chaotic second half that Chelsea will want to forget.

The result means Chelsea must now beat African side ES Tunis in their next match on Tuesday to progress to the last 16. However, finishing second in the group could set them up for a much tougher path, likely facing the winner of Group C, which may include Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.

Flamengo’s victory strengthens their bid to top Group D and extends the unbeaten run of South American teams in the Club World Cup’s newly expanded format.

Flamengo vs Chelsea Highlight

Advertisements
Continue Reading

Football

Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan: Ramos opener earns shock draw after Lautaro misses sitter

Published

on

By

Monterrey vs Inter Milan

Monterrey secured their spot in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, now known as the CONCACAF Cup.

Fast forward four years, and the team returned to the international stage at the Rose Bowl with only one player from that title-winning squad still in the lineup: veteran goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. The club had not lifted any silverware since that 2021 triumph, which made what happened next even more unexpected.

In a surprising twist, Monterrey opened the scoring against Inter Milan in the 25th minute, as Sergio Ramos delivered a perfectly placed header.

The Spanish defender, who joined the Mexican outfit earlier this year on a one-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, had cited the Club World Cup as a major influence in his decision to sign. His goal sent the Monterrey fans into wild celebrations.

However, their joy didn’t last long. Inter’s star forward Lautaro Martínez—fresh off a World Cup win—responded with a close-range finish following a perfectly orchestrated set-piece.

The Argentine’s goal silenced the Rayados-dominated crowd and brought the game level at 1-1 before halftime.

The second half saw both teams tighten up defensively, limiting each other’s chances as the game wore on.

Inter, still recovering from a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last month’s UEFA Champions League final, looked eager to reassert themselves. But it was Monterrey who rose to the occasion, matching their European opponents stride for stride and leaving the pitch with their heads held high after a gritty performance.

Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan Highlights

Advertisements
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025 Alpays Media.

News
Live Scores
Live TV
App