Liam Delap has an uncertain future at Manchester City amid interest from Southampton this summer. The 19-year-old is unlikely to command a starting place in the first-team this season and could be loaned out to get regular competitive football, but the Saints would prefer a permanent deal.
Man City have no interest in selling Delap as they believe in his potential, so they won’t entertain any offer put to them. Fabrizio Romano said on Twitter that Southampton ‘submitted a £16m bid’ for the England youth international that was turned down, so there’s ‘no agreement in place’ between the two clubs.
Where will Manchester City finish in the Premier League this season?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th or lower
Delap joined City from Derby three years ago and has gone on to score 10 goals with seven assists from 16 games for the U18s and 35 goals with nine assists from 36 games for the U23s. He’s featured six times for the first-team, scoring just one goal, so it’s hard to see him playing a big role in the squad this season.
City have already sold Gavin Bazunu and Romeo Lavia to Southampton this summer, so they’re not averse to selling hot prospects to fellow Premier League rivals, but Delap is a player Guardiola wants to keep – he came off the bench in City’s 2-1 win over Club America on July 20.
The only move that would be sanctioned is a temporary one.