Liam Delap | £30m release clause?

All of the strikers he’s been compared to in those graphs play for teams at the opposite end of the table. Surely that would have an impact on their stats?
100% if you compare the xG of each club and their position it makes it even more impressive.
 
Now if we broaden this to players in the top 5 leagues who have an XG above 10 (U23):

Premier League:
Salah 24.74
Haaland 22.89
Isak 19.33
Watkins 17.30
Wissa 16.47
Palmer 14.28
Mateta 14.12
Jackson 13.67
Wood 12.99
Semenyo 12.31
Jimenez 12.09
Havertz 11.76
Mbeumo 11.68
Delap 11.59
Solanke 11.30
Evanilson 11.26
Johnson 10.70
Ouattara 10.69

Vardy 10.62
Sarr 10.40
Kluivert 10.11

La Liga:
Lewandowski 26.61
Mbappe 22.99
Budimir 18.09
Raphinha 16.29
Sorloth 14.89
Barry 14.89
Alvarez 12.95
Vini Jr 12.29
Perez 11.96
Bellingham 11.62
Muriqi 10.75
Iglesias 10.20
Inaki Williams 10.16
Sancet 10.10

Serie A
Retegui 19.37
Kean 18.56
Castellanos 14.89
Martinez 14.67
Piccoli 14.43
Vlahovic 14.37
Dovbyk 13.45
Lookman 12.83
Lukaku 12.28
Thuram 12.05
Krstovic 11.47

Bundesliga
Kane 23.15
Ekitike 21.02
Guirassy 20.47
Kliendienst 14.89
Demirovic 13.90
Burkardt 12.79
Schick 12.41
Kramaric 11.93
Musiala 11.05
Amoura 10.49
Marmoush 10.45
Höler 10.43
Sêsko 10.33
Undav 10.16

Ligue 1
David 17.72
Dembele 17.35
Greenwood 16.86
Kalimuendo 15.83
Emegha 15.69

Lacazette 15.31
Barcola 14.75
Ramos 13.74

Embolo 11.73
Aboukhlal 11.56
Laborde 11.26
Ajorque 10.98
Biereth 10.68 (only 1073mins though?!)
Mikautedze 10.01

I’d say that’s rather impressive for a relegation club striker.
I will say based on this and some further research Ekitike and Biereth are really interesting players but their fees will dwarf £30m.
 
I will say based on this and some further research Ekitike and Biereth are really interesting players but their fees will dwarf £30m.

Don’t Frankfurt always seem to have a striker who scores loads of goals, only to then prove to be poor in any other team after they’ve sold them for millions? Not that I’d rule out a move for Ekitike but it’s got to be a slight concern.
 
Absolutely. We need way better striker than him. With striker we just can't afford a miss again.
Btw, many people here are talking about him as backup option. That will never happen.
Guy will not join club where he will be a backup. He will go where he is no1 option.
“Competing for the #1 spot” or whatever lies a club sells to get the player signed.

I don’t think he’s a particularly bad player, but he’s not particularly good either and certainly not special; I think he’s a player worth pursuing for a number of clubs, but not to insert as the main man straight out the gate. It obviously won’t happen with our financial restraints, but he’s the kind of signing that would be great to land late in the window, after concluding the big guns who you expect to elevate you and drive you up the table - a project that could reap huge dividends later on, but doesn’t impact you if he falls short.
 
“Competing for the #1 spot” or whatever lies a club sells to get the player signed.

I don’t think he’s a particularly bad player, but he’s not particularly good either and certainly not special; I think he’s a player worth pursuing for a number of clubs, but not to insert as the main man straight out the gate. It obviously won’t happen with our financial restraints, but he’s the kind of signing that would be great to land late in the window, after concluding the big guns who you expect to elevate you and drive you up the table - a project that could reap huge dividends later on, but doesn’t impact you if he falls short.

So much of the tone in here from a lot of people reminds me of the Hojlund summer. Those of us that weren’t convinced by him and believed we needed a top quality striker alongside signing him, were shouted down and there was a lot of hype around his ability and expectation he would just step up and be ready.

We should not be putting all of our eggs in one basket, especially an unproven one. I don’t care that people believe he is “PL proven”, he isn’t. He has had 1 decent season, that is not proven and the step up to leading the line at Manchester United is huge.

Fergie always used to bring in volume of quality and odd punts on top of that because he recognised the value of forwards and having quality options (plural). We have sold a large amount of forwards and have minimal quality and quantity at the moment. I love Amad but he has not had a full season yet as a proven starter and has been injured frequently, Garna is a talented young player but needs less pressure and more development, Zirkzee has a lot to prove and Hojlund needs to go on loan or be sold.

We need options and just Cunha and Delap would be underwhelming. Financially that may be the restricting factor but many are acting like Delap comes in and adapts like a duck to water which is risky. I would take those 2 plus at least one more top forward like Osimhen. They may not work also but at least they have a longer, proven level of experience and quality. We need options.
 
I have doubts about delap too, but at the other end of the spectrum fees like 100m for Isak represent a huge gamble. Two seasons ago Evan Ferguson might have cost 50m and now look where he is. There are very few sure things in football.

If Osimhen is ruled out, and Gyokeres is unattainable without CL - head over to the which striker should we sign thread - its not exactly a brilliant market. From the PL - Mateta or Watkins would also be good options
 
Based on what? Solanke is a better player than him.

Watching them play. What does Solanke do that Delap isn't doing that makes him better? Solanke is good but he's nothing special.

Delap wouldn't be my first choice but I'm convinced he would cost a LOT more than 30 million if there wasn't a release clause which is what I was replying to, even Lavia cost £50 million when he was relegated with Southampton.
 
Watching them play. What does Solanke do that Delap isn't doing that makes him better? Solanke is good but he's nothing special.

Delap wouldn't be my first choice but I'm convinced he would cost a LOT more than 30 million if there wasn't a release clause which is what I was replying to, even Lavia cost £50 million when he was relegated with Southampton.

I like Solanke, quite tidy on the ball and have a good sense of positioning. He has good technique too.
 
So much of the tone in here from a lot of people reminds me of the Hojlund summer. Those of us that weren’t convinced by him and believed we needed a top quality striker alongside signing him, were shouted down and there was a lot of hype around his ability and expectation he would just step up and be ready.

We should not be putting all of our eggs in one basket, especially an unproven one. I don’t care that people believe he is “PL proven”, he isn’t. He has had 1 decent season, that is not proven and the step up to leading the line at Manchester United is huge.

Fergie always used to bring in volume of quality and odd punts on top of that because he recognised the value of forwards and having quality options (plural). We have sold a large amount of forwards and have minimal quality and quantity at the moment. I love Amad but he has not had a full season yet as a proven starter and has been injured frequently, Garna is a talented young player but needs less pressure and more development, Zirkzee has a lot to prove and Hojlund needs to go on loan or be sold.

We need options and just Cunha and Delap would be underwhelming. Financially that may be the restricting factor but many are acting like Delap comes in and adapts like a duck to water which is risky. I would take those 2 plus at least one more top forward like Osimhen. They may not work also but at least they have a longer, proven level of experience and quality. We need options.
For me, the pursuit of him by a club like Newcastle is the more sound; they already have that star striker and want Delap to both fill in and rotate with him whilst they compete on multiple fronts. The pressure on Delap is then reduced, he gets to develop and, if he proves himself, he can vye for the top spot further down the line.

Just dropping him in here, with all the pressure transferred from Højlund, to lead our attack as *the* man is a big gamble and one made straight after the gig essentially broke Rasmus? It would beg the question of whether we have learned nothing from the escapade we’re enduring this season.

I don’t dislike the player, and honestly, if he went on to become a solid PL striker in a couple of years, it wouldn’t surprise me. I just don’t think we can risk so much based on so little and put him in such a sink or swim predicament with a baton pass straight from our flailing Dane.
 
40/50 league goals with Amad, Delap and Cunha. Sorry dude but that’s absolutely delusional. Amad is a decent enough player, Is Amad top five quality at this moment in time probably not, he wouldn’t make Villa or newcastles starting line up, Delap not good enough either, Cunha is an option, he’s better than average but let’s not kid ourselves.

how on earth is expecting 10, 15 and 15 goals Delusional over a league season? That looks like a bare minimum expectation for those three players.
 
For me, the pursuit of him by a club like Newcastle is the more sound; they already have that star striker and want Delap to both fill in and rotate with him whilst they compete on multiple fronts. The pressure on Delap is then reduced, he gets to develop and, if he proves himself, he can vye for the top spot further down the line.

Just dropping him in here, with all the pressure transferred from Højlund, to lead our attack as *the* man is a big gamble and one made straight after the gig essentially broke Rasmus? It would beg the question of whether we have learned nothing from the escapade we’re enduring this season.

I don’t dislike the player, and honestly, if he went on to become a solid PL striker in a couple of years, it wouldn’t surprise me. I just don’t think we can risk so much based on so little and put him in such a sink or swim predicament with a baton pass straight from our flailing Dane.
Dont think he’ll ever knock Isak off, which makes the move a permanent sub role for Delap or when Isak is injured. Is he content with that? Maybe, but he’s too young to make do with such a role I believe.

Newcastle got Osula too. Looked lively today.
 
Dont think he’ll ever knock Isak off, which makes the move a permanent sub role for Delap or when Isak is injured. Is he content with that? Maybe, but he’s too young to make do with such a role I believe.

Newcastle got Osula too. Looked lively today.
It’s not make do though is it? Loads of games in it for him, and if he backs himself, it’s either he goes on to challenge Isak or moves on as a player then demanding to be the main man himself, having proven himself worthy of it via a sterling apprenticeship and understudy role.
 
40/50 league goals with Amad, Delap and Cunha. Sorry dude but that’s absolutely delusional. Amad is a decent enough player, Is Amad top five quality at this moment in time probably not, he wouldn’t make Villa or newcastles starting line up, Delap not good enough either, Cunha is an option, he’s better than average but let’s not kid ourselves.
Delap has 12 this season playing for a team that got relegated. Cunha has 15 for a Wolves side that have been struggling for large parts of the season. Amad has scored 6 in his breakthrough season playing for the poorest United side in 30 years and has been out injured for a lenghty time. How is it delusional to think that if you put the 3 of them together in a functuning team they have the potential to score 7 more goals next season? To me that sound like the minimum we should expect if we end up signing Cunha and Delap.
 
For me, the pursuit of him by a club like Newcastle is the more sound; they already have that star striker and want Delap to both fill in and rotate with him whilst they compete on multiple fronts. The pressure on Delap is then reduced, he gets to develop and, if he proves himself, he can vye for the top spot further down the line.

Just dropping him in here, with all the pressure transferred from Højlund, to lead our attack as *the* man is a big gamble and one made straight after the gig essentially broke Rasmus? It would beg the question of whether we have learned nothing from the escapade we’re enduring this season.

I don’t dislike the player, and honestly, if he went on to become a solid PL striker in a couple of years, it wouldn’t surprise me. I just don’t think we can risk so much based on so little and put him in such a sink or swim predicament with a baton pass straight from our flailing Dane.

100% agree and mentioned it before in a post that Newcastle are doing it right, you sign a Delap when you already have an Isak.

Signing Delap and having him need to be your number 1 striker is silly. Even if he steps up, we still only have 1 good striker option.
 
40/50 league goals with Amad, Delap and Cunha. Sorry dude but that’s absolutely delusional. Amad is a decent enough player, Is Amad top five quality at this moment in time probably not, he wouldn’t make Villa or newcastles starting line up, Delap not good enough either, Cunha is an option, he’s better than average but let’s not kid ourselves.
50 is pushing it, but 40 certainly isn't delusional. They've got 33 league goals between them this season with a few games still to play, Amad missing a fairly large part of the season and Delap playing for one of the worst teams in the league. Those two will be another year older and more experienced as well.

Not to say they definitely will or anything, but it's hardly delusional.
 
100% agree and mentioned it before in a post that Newcastle are doing it right, you sign a Delap when you already have an Isak.

Signing Delap and having him need to be your number 1 striker is silly. Even if he steps up, we still only have 1 good striker option.

If they Sign Delap it will probably be to replace Isak, they have already bought a young understudy striker to bed in behind Isak and that was Osula last year who is suppose to be highly thought of.

They've really Struggled with the PSR so if they can ship Isak out for 120 million to Arsenal and bring in Delap for 30 they might think it's worth it.
 
It’s not make do though is it? Loads of games in it for him, and if he backs himself, it’s either he goes on to challenge Isak or moves on as a player then demanding to be the main man himself, having proven himself worthy of it via a sterling apprenticeship and understudy role.

Why would he go and be a reserve at Newcastle when he will start for nearly every other team in the league? Would be one of the craziest decisions any player had ever made. The only circumstances in which he goes to Newcastle are if they sell Isak, and then he will be going there as the main man.
 
50 is pushing it, but 40 certainly isn't delusional. They've got 33 league goals between them this season with a few games still to play, Amad missing a fairly large part of the season and Delap playing for one of the worst teams in the league. Those two will be another year older and more experienced as well.

Not to say they definitely will or anything, but it's hardly delusional.
Calling them the worst team in the league is a bit harsh considering how fast the came up. They were in league 1, championship and into the premier in 2 seasons. Southampton have to be the worst team in the league considering they were top flight for a few years, went down and came back up.

Give Ipswich some credit and respect. They have done well for themselves and put a good fight in many games. But they just don't have enough quality.
 
Compared to the other strikers we can target, he’s painfully average - so of course we’re trying to sign him.
 
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Now if we broaden this to players in the top 5 leagues who have an XG above 10 (U23):

Premier League:
Salah 24.74
Haaland 22.89
Isak 19.33
Watkins 17.30
Wissa 16.47
Palmer 14.28
Mateta 14.12
Jackson 13.67
Wood 12.99
Semenyo 12.31
Jimenez 12.09
Havertz 11.76
Mbeumo 11.68
Delap 11.59
Solanke 11.30
Evanilson 11.26
Johnson 10.70
Ouattara 10.69

Vardy 10.62
Sarr 10.40
Kluivert 10.11

La Liga:
Lewandowski 26.61
Mbappe 22.99
Budimir 18.09
Raphinha 16.29
Sorloth 14.89
Barry 14.89
Alvarez 12.95
Vini Jr 12.29
Perez 11.96
Bellingham 11.62
Muriqi 10.75
Iglesias 10.20
Inaki Williams 10.16
Sancet 10.10

Serie A
Retegui 19.37
Kean 18.56
Castellanos 14.89
Martinez 14.67
Piccoli 14.43
Vlahovic 14.37
Dovbyk 13.45
Lookman 12.83
Lukaku 12.28
Thuram 12.05
Krstovic 11.47

Bundesliga
Kane 23.15
Ekitike 21.02
Guirassy 20.47
Kliendienst 14.89
Demirovic 13.90
Burkardt 12.79
Schick 12.41
Kramaric 11.93
Musiala 11.05
Amoura 10.49
Marmoush 10.45
Höler 10.43
Sêsko 10.33
Undav 10.16

Ligue 1
David 17.72
Dembele 17.35
Greenwood 16.86
Kalimuendo 15.83
Emegha 15.69

Lacazette 15.31
Barcola 14.75
Ramos 13.74

Embolo 11.73
Aboukhlal 11.56
Laborde 11.26
Ajorque 10.98
Biereth 10.68 (only 1073mins though?!)
Mikautedze 10.01

I’d say that’s rather impressive for a relegation club striker.
Biereth joined Monaco in January.
 
Why would he go and be a reserve at Newcastle when he will start for nearly every other team in the league? Would be one of the craziest decisions any player had ever made. The only circumstances in which he goes to Newcastle are if they sell Isak, and then he will be going there as the main man.
This talk of “main man” for a 22-year old, just making a name for himself is misguided, for me. He should be a #2 wherever he goes, if the club is big enough. That’s the natural order of things. He’s not some young prodigy; there is no evidence whatsoever that he can cope with being the main guy in a much more pressurised environment than Ipswich. Being a #2 at his age isn’t a slight or an insult, yet you paint it as such. Going off to the bright lights too soon and taking on too much before time can be ruinous, which is why it’s rare, and the reserve of the elite young ones.

Delap might well be up for it, but those handling him and looking out for him as a career prospect are supposed to ensure the client is placed in the soundest environment and conditions for growth and development - is being thrust straight to the top dog status at a big club anything but a gamble right now? Should Højlund serve as a cautionary tale or not?
 
This talk of “main man” for a 22-year old, just making a name for himself is misguided, for me. He should be a #2 wherever he goes, if the club is big enough. That’s the natural order of things. He’s not some young prodigy; there is no evidence whatsoever that he can cope with being the main guy in a much more pressurised environment than Ipswich. Being a #2 at his age isn’t a slight or an insult, yet you paint it as such. Going off to the bright lights too soon and taking on too much before time can be ruinous, which is why it’s rare, and the reserve of the elite young ones.

Delap might well be up for it, but those handling him and looking out for him as a career prospect are supposed to ensure the client is placed in the soundest environment and conditions for growth and development - is being thrust straight to the top dog status at a big club anything but a gamble right now? Should Højlund serve as a cautionary tale or not?

I don’t think you sign a 4 year contract at 22, as the hottest young striker prospect in the premier league, to be an understudy. That would be terrible advice and there’s no chance that is what his team are suggesting.

Arguably, a year or two at a Brighton or Villa level team would be perfect but given so many big teams have no striker, he’s obviously going to end up at one of them.
 
I don’t think you sign a 4 year contract at 22, as the hottest young striker prospect in the premier league, to be an understudy. That would be terrible advice and there’s no chance that is what his team are suggesting.

Arguably, a year or two at a Brighton or Villa level team would be perfect but given so many big teams have no striker, he’s obviously going to end up at one of them.

If Villa had sense they'd drop the interest in Rashford and bring in Delap for cheaper fee and wages.

I'd absolutely take Delap here as a second option but I have major doubts as our first choice. Just feels like we'd be failing to learn from the mistake of putting trust in a very young prospect. Just imagine he has a poor season as young players can do, another bottom half finish would be severe for us.
 
I don’t think you sign a 4 year contract at 22, as the hottest young striker prospect in the premier league, to be an understudy. That would be terrible advice and there’s no chance that is what his team are suggesting.

Arguably, a year or two at a Brighton or Villa level team would be perfect but given so many big teams have no striker, he’s obviously going to end up at one of them.
When did that happen?

Ending up at a big team yes; starting next season as the leading man? Not in their ideal world. It would be naive to think that, of a professional agency, too. I should imagine more than one club have ideas of getting him into their rotation.
 
Calling them the worst team in the league is a bit harsh considering how fast the came up. They were in league 1, championship and into the premier in 2 seasons. Southampton have to be the worst team in the league considering they were top flight for a few years, went down and came back up.

Give Ipswich some credit and respect. They have done well for themselves and put a good fight in many games. But they just don't have enough quality.
I said 'one of the worst' which they clearly are. Nothing against them and I hope they strengthen and come back up, but the fact they are getting relegated and are a long way behind 17th shows they are one of the worst.

Southampton clearly being the worst, and indeed one of the worst PL teams of all time.
 
When did that happen?

Ending up at a big team yes; starting next season as the leading man? Not in their ideal world. It would be naive to think that, of a professional agency, too. I should imagine more than one club have ideas of getting him into their rotation.

Hold on, people don’t think he’s the hottest striker prospect in the premier league? Am I missing someone in the 18-22 type age bracket who is higher regarded? If so, how much would they cost?