Aston Villa receive Liam Delap transfer message as Man United and Chelsea target £30m move
Ex-Aston Villa star Paul Merson thinks Liam Delap would excel under Unai Emery
Former Premier League midfielder Paul Merson believes Liam Delap would be a perfect fit at Aston Villa.
The 22-year-old striker is expected to leave Ipswich Town this summer, with a £30m release clause in place if the Tractor Boys are relegated from the Premier League.
Delap has scored 12 goals in 30 Premier League appearances this season, including one at Villa Park in Ipswich’s 1–1 draw back in February.
A number of clubs are interested in the forward, with Manchester United and Chelsea among them, but Merson believes Villa should also pursue a move.
"He's a talent and £30m is not a lot of money for a player of his age,” Merson said on Sky Sports. “He's got to pick the right club to go to.
"He plays with a lot of grass in front of him at Ipswich, where teams have a go so he can make good runs.
"He's got to weigh it up where he goes. I've seen people like [Romelu] Lukaku come to Chelsea, and teams stick 10 behind the ball and they haven't got that guile. I don't know if he's got that one-two, flicking it around the corner, going again - he's got to pick the right team for him.
"He needs to sit down with his agent and his dad [ex-Stoke midfielder Rory Delap], who knows his football after playing at the top level, and think about where's the best place for him. It's not always about the money, it'll be about what team suits him for the way he plays and the chances he gets.
"For me, the team that ticks the boxes are Aston Villa. They have a big pitch, they play on the counter-attack, so teams come and have a go at Aston Villa.
"I just think with the bigger clubs, like Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, they (opponents) stick 10 behind the ball. I think Man Utd would be a brilliant fit for him."
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