Manchester City do have a buyback option on Ipswich striker Liam Delap but it is worth “over £30m”, according to reports.
The Daily Mail claim that the Premier League champions wanted to insert the clause “just in case” he went on to be a success at Portman Road.
With Delap now being courted by the likes of Chelsea, it is safe to say that the forward is making a big impression. City supporters on X have been debating whether it is already time to bring him back to the Etihad:
He is worth it
— Ponke Kulu (@Kulu_Mastermind) January 17, 2025
We don’t need him we have Haaland
— S⚡️ (@Donezeto) January 17, 2025
Still worth it, I wonder if he would come to play cups and when haaland is injured.
— Herbert (@Herbert17147854) January 17, 2025
He's not going to come back with Haaland there. Just because we have a buy back clause, that does not mean Delap will want/will come back.
— Coops (@DarrenC57674180) January 17, 2025
Bring him home idc🙂↔️
— JAMES (@pablo_richy7) January 17, 2025
We have Marmoush
— TFN💤 (@seilesstay) January 17, 2025
Haaland’s new contract suggests Delap’s return is unlikely
After handing Haaland a bumper nine-year contract, worth in excess of £500,000 a week, it appears the club’s No.9 spot is covered for the foreseeable future.
With that being the case, you can’t see Delap being interested in returning to Manchester simply to warm the bench.
City are about to recruit another forward
While Omar Marmoush is not necessarily an out-and-out striker, he will be able to cover for Haaland through the middle if and when required.
It is believed that the Cityzens will pay an initial €75m (£63.4m) for the Egyptian international with another €5m (£4.2m) in add-ons. He is expected to complete his move over the weekend, having sat out Eintracht Frankfurt’s game against Borussia Dortmund on Friday evening.
Read our exclusive interview with Emmanuel Petit as he explains why he thinks Abdukodir Khusanov will be a success at Manchester City