Liam Delap is a promising talent with a bright future, but it remains to be seen if he’ll realise his potential at Manchester City after Julian Alvarez joined from River Plate in January and Erling Haaland joined from Borussia Dortmund this summer.
The 19-year-old will have hoped for more playing time last season after Sergio Aguero was sold, but Delap managed just a handful of appearances due to an injury-hit campaign and was barely in the matchday squad. Delap amassed only 26 minutes of football at senior level, so his development has taken a big hit.
Where will Manchester City finish in the Premier League this season?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th or lower
Despite an outstanding scoring record in the U18s (16 games, 10 goals, 7 assists) and U23s (36 games, 35 goals, 9 assists), the England U19 international has not kicked on to get more first-team football, so Alex Brotherton of Manchester Evening News says a loan move away could follow.
Brotherton says Delap could join City’s first-teamers for their pre-season tour of Australia, but Burnley and Southampton are trying to procure his signature – the Clarets want a loan move while the Saints want a permanent deal. City believe in Delap’s ability, so they’re likely to favour a temporary switch elsewhere.
If Haaland and Alvarez are getting playing time over the 19-year-old, Delap has little choice but to leave.