Man United's Liam Delap transfer can be funded by two sales as 'release clause' details emerge

Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap is reportedly in demand by Manchester United and Chelsea as the Premier League club face relegation

Manchester United are reportedly ready to sell two high-profile players in order to fund their pursuit of a striker - with Ipswich Town's Liam Delap named as a top target.

The Reds' attack has been limp this season as both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have failed to impress as No.9s. Despite money being tight at Old Trafford, Ineos and Ruben Amorim are determined to sign a striker to add firepower to their forward line.

Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres has been heavily linked with United due to his previous working relationship with Amorim and Delap's name is also cropping up. The Daily Mail reports that the striker and former Manchester City man has a £40m release clause inserted into his contract.

To fund the pursuit of Delap, or another striker, it is understood that United would use the money from sales of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho in the summer. MEN Sport reported recently that Rashford and Sancho were two of ten players that the club are looking to part ways with at the end of the season.

Napoli's Victor Osimhen, who is currently on loan at Galatasaray, is also thought to be on the radar and his purchase could include a swap deal agreement involving Alejandro Garnacho. United may choose to look away from this kind of deal though as swap deals tend not to positively impact Financial Fair Play (FFP) records.

As for Delap, his future looks set to be away from Portman Road should Ipswich be relegated. Speaking to the East Anglian Daily Times, their chairman Mark Ashton provided an update on the forward's contract.

"What I would say is that what's been reported is never quite fact," he explained. "What I can say is that in January there was interest in a number of our players from a number of Premier League clubs.

"But ownership were great. It was ‘you don't have to sell’.

"So look, we're not an easy club to buy from, because we have such strong ownership. We are very, very, very well protected with all of that."

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