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Ipswich Town: Liam Delap responds to transfer speculation saying he is ‘just focused on Ipswich’ and is continuing to improve under Kieran McKenna




After spearheading their maiden home Premier League win against Chelsea, Liam Delap dampened down speculation he is set for a January move, saying he is ‘just focused on Ipswich’ and acknowledged how he is continuing to improve under Kieran McKenna and his coaching staff.

The 21-year-old notched his seventh goal of the campaign after winning and then confidently dispatching Town’s first penalty of the season 12 minutes into last night’s Portman Road encounter. He then played a big part in setting up Omari Hutchinson for the second in the 53rd minute which sealed a memorable 2-0 victory over the fourth-placed side to leave the Blues a point from safety with 15 at the half-way stage.

The player who signed for a reported initial £15 million rising to £20m from Manchester City in the summer, following his loan spell in the Championship with Hull City, has drawn wide praise from pundits for his powerful all-action displays this season.

Liam Delap, blowing a kiss to the crowd after opening the scoring against Chelsea, has insinuated he is loving life playing under Kieran McKenna at Portman Road Picture: Barry Goodwin
Liam Delap, blowing a kiss to the crowd after opening the scoring against Chelsea, has insinuated he is loving life playing under Kieran McKenna at Portman Road Picture: Barry Goodwin

While analysing the 1-1 home draw with Manchester United on November 24 for BBC’s Match of the Day 2, Danny Murphy described him as England captain and Bayern Munich star Harry Kane’s ‘obvious long-term successor’ saying he is ‘the best young English striker out there’.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca had used his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Suffolk to also wax lyrical about a player he worked closely with having come in at Man City as the head of the Citizens’ Elite Development Squad, backing him to ‘become an important player for England’.

The England Under-21s international has been linked with a return to his former club - who do not have a recall clause as it was a permanent transfer but may have an option to match any accepted bid - among other top clubs.

But asked if he had been able to block out all the noise that has linked him with a big move away from Portman Road, with the January transfer window about to open, and focus on his game, he replied: “Yes, I don’t really look at things like that. So, yes, I’m just focused on Ipswich.”

With both Hutchinson (Arsenal then Chelsea) and himself having come out of a big four club’s academy before demonstrating what they can do on the Premier League stage with a move to a newly-promoted club, he said: “As a young player, you just want to go and play football.

“We’re lucky to be playing in the Premier League. I think we’ve got a great opportunity here at Ipswich and we’re just trying to show our ability week in, week out, that’s a big plus for me.”

Town’s FA Cup and UEFA Cup-winning captain Mick Mills described Delap’s swashbuckling display in his match summary on BBC Radio Suffolk as one of the best centre-forward performances he has ever witnessed from a Blues players at Portman Road.

Liam Delap battles with Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo in a centre-forward display which former Town and England captain Mick Mills said on BBC Radio Suffolk he felt had a bit of everything and deserved a 10 out of 10 rating Picture: Barry Goodwin
Liam Delap battles with Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo in a centre-forward display which former Town and England captain Mick Mills said on BBC Radio Suffolk he felt had a bit of everything and deserved a 10 out of 10 rating Picture: Barry Goodwin

Asked if he ranked it in what has become a breakthrough season as one of his top outings in the Premier League, he was also keen to focus on what his team-mates brought to it as well.

“Yes, 100 per cent. Obviously, individually but collectively as well,” he said.

“I think everyone that started and came on had a really good and important role to play and everyone executed that terrifically and that’s why we got the three points.”

Liam Delap ended a six-game goalless run with his seventh Premier League goal of the campaign from a penalty which he won himself as he rounded Filip Jorgensen Picture: Barry Goodwin
Liam Delap ended a six-game goalless run with his seventh Premier League goal of the campaign from a penalty which he won himself as he rounded Filip Jorgensen Picture: Barry Goodwin

Asked to sum up his own season so far, having now hit the half-way stage with seven Premier League goals to his name after ending a six-game wait for his next one, he was quick to acknowledge the role McKenna and his coaching staff have played.

“I think, obviously, I had the confidence coming here under the manager and the staff, the way they play and how he (Kieran McKenna) was going to improve me,” he said.

Liam Delap celebrates scoring the opening Ipswich goal against Chelsea, taken from the penalty spot, with Nathan Broadhead Picture: Barry Goodwin
Liam Delap celebrates scoring the opening Ipswich goal against Chelsea, taken from the penalty spot, with Nathan Broadhead Picture: Barry Goodwin

“All the staff and the manager have really helped me improve and I think I’ve improved a lot in recent weeks.

“I think I’ve still got more to come. Obviously, I’m happy as an individual, but I think I can still do more and we need to just keep pushing.”

Omari relationship continues to blossom

On ending his six-game goalless streak, the 21-year-old said it was also a great feeling.

“Yes, 100 per cent, it is always nice to score and Omari’s done really well for his goal as well, so yes, we’re proud.”

Having linked up with his England Under-21s international team-mate for the second goal, following pouncing on a loose pass from Axel Disasi, he feels there is a relationship building for the benefit of club and country.

“We’re both a similar age, we’re both new to the Premier League and I think the more we’re playing with each other the more we understand each other and we are building a really good connection,” he said.

Of the former Chelsea and Arsenal winger’s extra special night, having celebrated his 53rd-minute goal with a trademark backflip against his former employers, he said: “Obviously coming through their youth system it’s probably a game that he wants to play in even more and to perform like he did tonight.

“We all know he’s that good a player and he’s just shown how good he is tonight.”

‘We gave the fans what they deserve’

Having waited 10 games to finally wrap up their first Premier League home win in the last game of 2024, Delap hailed it as a team effort which duly delivered a just reward to their patient fans.

“It was a terrific performance from everyone that played and that win’s been coming for a long time so it was good to finally get it,” he said.

Put to him that it must have felt really good to finally get the monkey of a home win off their backs, he replied: “Yes, 100 per cent. I think the performances that we’ve been putting in probably deserve it.

“We’ve conceded late goals and not probably finished our chances as well as we should have.

“But tonight we showed that every part of our game was really good and we finally gave the fans what they deserve.”

On whether the first home win, putting the Blues to within one point of safety, currently occupied by Wolves, can be a springboard for their survival push ahead of travelling to another high-flyer in Fulham on Sunday (2pm), he said: “Yes, 100 per cent.

“I think it doesn’t probably change much; we’ve performed really well in games here this season and it just probably hasn’t gone for us, but tonight I think everything went for us.

“So, yes, we can just build on that and keep getting better with our performances and hopefully we’ll get a few more.”

Home fans’ noise intimidating opponents

Chelsea had only tasted defeat three times in their 18 Premier League matches heading into the year-ending clash and despite their manager Enzo Maresca playing it down, were being talked about as genuine title contenders.

And Delap and his team-mates had been left in no doubt that they had to put in a top-drawer performance to give themselves a chance of breaking their home duck in the top flight before the curtain came down on 2024.

“We know the quality of the opposition, they’ve got some incredible players, so we know that if we slip up just once then they can capitalise,” he said.

“We know the importance of keeping concentration throughout every minute.”

On the intimidating atmosphere Chelsea’s superstars found themselves having to deal with at Portman Road as almost 27,000 home fans roared every touch their side got as they burst out of the traps, with noise levels only increasing once they got in front from Dealp’s spot-kick, he said: “We know whoever we play here, they’re going to not like it. The fans and the intensity we play at is really good.

“We know anyone that turns up here is going to have a tough night.”

Returning keeper praised for ‘terrific’ display

Delap also acknowledged Christian Walton’s big performance in goal, having come in for regular number one Aro Muric on what was only his second Premier League start for Town, the last being the first day of the season against Liverpool with the latter injured.

He said: “Yes, 100 per cent. I think not just him, but everyone (played a big part).

“We’re so lucky to have two excellently-talented goalkeepers.

“Aro’s done really well in recent weeks and it just shows how well we train and how switched on everyone is because he’s not played in a while.

“To come in and perform like that is terrific.

“It’s just credit to him and credit to his work ethic over the last few months where he’s not been playing.”

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