Manchester United once set the standard for great strikers. Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Eric Cantona, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke and Robin van Persie - that is a long list of players who scored formidable goals for the "Red Devils". However, now everything is a vaguely remembered memory obscured by a series of invaluable players at Old Trafford.
At the age of 22, it will be a big challenge for Liam Delap to prove himself as a worthy successor to Man United's iconic "number 9". However, the Ipswich Town striker is a favorite target for Man United in the summer of 2025 because he has the potential to do so.
According to ESPN, Man United have put Delap, a striker valued at around £40 million if Ipswich are relegated, above Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen in the list of potential transfer targets.
In his first full Premier League campaign this season, Delap has scored 12 goals in 30 appearances for Ipswich. The English player has shown impressive speed, physical strengths and ability to lead the attack.
Coach Kieran McKenna's team has benefited from Delap's ability to keep the ball and create a foundation for midfielders. The 22-year-old striker also showed impressive individual skills in the opponent's penalty area.
Delap's qualities are similar to his youth Alan Shearer, who is still the Premier League's all-time top scorer with 260 goals for Blackburn and Newcastle. Shearer himself also commented last week that Delap was capable enough to rise to the top spot.
" Big clubs will be keeping an eye on Delap, because I think he has something in common with me. Delap has arrogance, which I really like and he has a radiance. He has been linked with a number of clubs in the Premier League and when I look at those clubs, I think he can be a leader. He's better than any striker Man United have," Shearer told Betfair.
Man United's history of signing for strikers since Sir Alex Ferguson convinced Arsenal to sell Van Persie for £24 million in August 2012 has turned a disaster.
They struggled from short-term signings - Radamel Falcao, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani - to young players with less experience such as Anthony Martial, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. That is not to mention loan signings such as Odion Ighalo and Wout Weghorst.
Apart from signing a £75 million contract with Romelu Lukaku from Everton in July 2017, the "Red Devils" have not had a striker at the peak of their form since Van Persie. Lukaku's return now seems unusual after many years. The Belgian striker left Old Trafford after two seasons and they have made mistakes over and over again since then.
That is why pursuing a striker this summer is so important. If Man United want to challenge for major trophies again, they must sign a reliable goalscorer.
Man United's scouting team discovered a lack of attacking power before Amorim came to replace Erik ten Hag who was sacked last November.
Due to the lack of viable options in the January transfer window this year and the need to reduce the salary fund, the club has focused on lending 2 unpopular strikers, Marcus Rashford and Antony. This was a decision that left Amorim's squad seriously lacking in attacking options.
According to British media, signing a new striker, preferably Delap, along with the return of Amad Diallo and the development of Chido Obi, will give Man United the superiority they are lacking.
Amorim highly appreciates Gyokeres, but with a high transfer fee and interest from many other "big guys", this striker is not a priority. Similar doubts about prices and adaptability in the Premier League also surrounded Sesko and Osimhen.
Gyokeres' qualities, similar to Delap, highlight what Amorim wants as a striker in his favorite 3-4-3 formation. This is something that neither Hojlund nor Zirkzee can meet at the moment.
Amorim wants a physically strong striker, but also has to handle the ball skillfully. Delap meets the requirements and will only cost half the money compared to Gyokeres.
Man United want long-term value and immediate impact. This is a difficult balance to achieve, as they have discovered the price many times. But right now, Delap is showing that he can meet both of the above requirements.
