INEOS devise four-man shortlist of Delap alternatives – including 38-goal PL frontman and Osimhen

Stretty News

·31 maggio 2025

INEOS devise four-man shortlist of Delap alternatives – including 38-goal PL frontman and Osimhen

INEOS have had to go back to the drawing board after missing out on the signing of first-choice centre-forward target Liam Delap.

Manchester United were informed this week that the Ipswich Town star had set his sights on a move to Chelsea, rebuffing interest from the Reds, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.

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Chelsea have now taken the necessary steps to activate Delap’s £30 million release clause before he’ll formally join Enzo Maresca’s already-stacked attacking options.

United made to re-think transfer plans following Delap snub

The Stamford Bridge outfit are preparing to add Liam Delap to their ranks. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images)

Now, it’s a case of where United turn next. Their failure to qualify for the Champions League has made their pursuit of ambitious targets considerably more complicated; it’s thought that’s what deterred Delap from making the move after holding positive talks with the club over an Old Trafford switch.

According to CaughtOffside, key decision-makers are racking their brains over potential forwards they could realistically welcome this summer, with Victor Osimhen, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Randal Kolo Muani and Jonathan David all of interest – the latter will be available for free ahead of his Lille release at the end of June.

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Of the quartet, Mateta is the only Premier League-proven option, having spent the last five seasons plying his trade at Crystal Palace.

Targeting players with respectable top-flight records has been an ongoing theme for INEOS in the lead-up to the window opening; Matheus Cunha is on the cusp of officially signing for United, while Bryan Mbeumo, Eberechi Eze and Emiliano Martinez have all been linked thus far.

CaughtOffside also adds that United are long-standing admirers of Benjamin Sesko. However, the youngster is closing in on a move to Arsenal, who could be forced to fork out a fee as high as £75m to prise him from RB Leipzig, where he’s tied down to a contract until 2029.