Man United told to get one over on Chelsea by signing £40m man 'better than anything they have'

Man United are being heavily linked with Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap ahead of this summer's transfer window.

Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer believes Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap is "better than anything Manchester United have got up front" amid speculation linking him with a move to Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old is being closely linked with a move to United ahead of this summer's transfer window after racking up an impressive tally of 11 Premier League goals for relegation-threatened Ipswich this season.

Delap joined the Tractor Boys last summer, signing for a fee in the region of £20million from Manchester City, and he has been a shining light in what has been a testing season for the Suffolk outfit.

Currently nine points from safety with eight games remaining, Ipswich are staring down the barrel at an immediate return to the Championship, meaning they are likely to be forced into surrendering Delap this summer.

Linked with a cluster of big-name clubs, including both United, who are desperate to sign a new striker this summer, and Chelsea, former Newcastle United and England man Shearer is adamant Delap would walk straight into United's or Chelsea's starting XI.

"Big clubs will be looking at him, because I think he's got something about him," Shearer told Betfair. "He's got an arrogance about him, which I really like and he's got an aura.

"He's already been linked with a number of clubs in the Premier League and looking at who he's been linked with I think he can go in and command a starting role, because he's better than anything Man United have got up front. He's also better than anything Chelsea have got up front, so the answer is simple – yes, he would start for those clubs.

"I think the good sign is that he's done really well in a struggling team and has, without a doubt, been the standout. They'll do well to keep hold of him and Ipswich fans will not want to hear that."

Shearer added: "Delap has been one of the standouts in a really poor season for Ipswich and it's difficult when you're up against it every single week to stand out but he's been one that has.

"Ipswich fans won't want to hear it, but it's inevitable that he'll be linked with massive football clubs because he's a really good talent. They're sat on something special are Ipswich. They put their neck on the line and paid the money for him and they've done very well with him.

"Delap has stood out this season which unfortunately means that he will attract the attention of the big clubs. It's going to be very difficult for Ipswich to keep hold of him, particularly because if, as expected, they're going to get relegated.

"Having had a taste of the Premier League, he won't want to go back to the Championship."

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