Morning all.
Liam Delap is widely expected to leave Ipswich this summer. He has according to reports, including from The Athletic, a £30 million get out clause should Ipswich get relegated, which right now looks unavoidable.
He’s 22 years old, he knows the Premier League and he’s scored 12 goals so far this season. He’s not a man mountain like Haaland, nor is he as tall as the likes of Nunez, Højlund, Isak or even Kai Havertz but he’s strong and at 6’ 1”, he’s no tiddler either. Nor is he a slow coach.
Many clubs are being linked to him including Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Milan so the footballing world really is his oyster. Ultimately, he’s in control of his destiny regardless of which club offers the most.
It’s a bit like Declan Rice really because he only ever wanted Arsenal but of course Arsenal had to pay West Ham whatever it took for them to agree the sale whereas with Delap, £30 million would get a deal done.
Personally, I think he’d look good in a red and white kit with a cannon on his chest.
The world and its friend assume we’re going to sign a striker this summer, a striker or a forward who scores goals. Obviously we’ll still have Gabriel Jesus unless another club comes in for him regardless of him still recovering after injury but I think he’s better out wide if he has to play.
We’ve been linked to so many forward players for ages, probably since the day Alex Lacazette left but we as a club have held off. There’s been stuff in the media suggesting we’ve made offers for strikers/forwards but I’ve no idea if they were true or just stories leaked to make it look like we tried. I can’t see the club ignoring the glaringly obvious need for a goal scorer for another transfer window.
Last summer, the club surged up the midfield and defence by signing Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino. Calafiori has had an injury plagued season but hopefully, next season will be so much better. Mikel Merino, well, I think he’s been a cracking signing and not just because of his recent form and goals. Many overseas players need time to adjust and for Merino, that adjustment was delayed because of a freak injury suffered in training.
Defensively, including midfield, we only really need to replace those who leave. It’s the attacking side of the team which needs attention this summer. It might be that Mikel Arteta sees Myles Lewis-Skelly as Partey’s natural successor just as Ethan Nwaneri might be challenging Martin Odegaard for his position and if that’s the case, wingers and strikers could be incoming. Not to forget the obligatory goalkeeper of course, we seem to always need one of them.
Signing a player like Delap makes more sense to me than hunting high and low for an overseas player because of the time often needed to adjust. A new country, new home, new cuisine, new teammates, it all takes time. Whereas we’ve seen how quickly the likes of Ben White, Declan Rice, David Raya, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard and Kieran Tierney made big impact on the team.
So whilst the media link us to every overseas player under the sun, I’m hoping that the club are looking a lot closer to home for new players.
Catch up in the comments.
Yes Delap is a great player, but for me I would like Gyokeros. He has played European and English football, even though it was for the Championship. Good experience and a lot of goals under his belt.
Delap would have a resale value though, plus many more years to his career.
I’d love to be a fly on the wall when transfers are being discussed at Arsenal.
Good morning Rico and all
Is this ref a Spuddie???
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1453706202669911
off to read the post.
Morning Devil.
Interesting post Rico, I’m sure that Arteta knows Delap junior as they were probably at Man City at the same time. £30m seems affordable but as a lump up front it might be difficult to do if we have to the Zubimendi dough up front as well? Maybe Arsenal could offer a slightly higher fee with add-ons to negotiate a fee paid in instalments?
I want two strikers added to the squad this summer, an apex centre-forward and a younger back-up as Jesus won’t be available and Sterling will be gone leaving just Havertz and Merino. A return to the days when we had attacking options just like the days of Bergkamp, Kanu, Wiltord and Henry is where I want us to be next August.
Two Kev?
Arsenal haven’t signed one in five years. 😝
Seriously though, I suppose Arteta will need to consider Khayon Edwards for the younger striker, he’ll be 22 years old in September.
Harvey Higgins is an intriguing option as well…
Arsenal, Newcastle United and Milan have announced they will travel to Singapore for pre-season ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
The two Premier League sides will play each other at the National Stadium on Sunday July 27 (7:30 pm local time).
Arsenal will also play Milan at the same venue on Wednesday July 23 (7:30 pm local time), with the games part of the Singapore Festival of Football.
He’s being tipped to join Arsenal isn’t he?
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2025/04/04/khayon-edwards-set-to-leave-arsenal-this-summer/
Higgins? Yes I believe so, hopefully he isn’t motivated by finance entirely like Obi Martin
There’s chat going around that Havertz might return before the end of the season, maybe for Munich?
I would also like two strikers,maybe Delap and the one from Lisbon. I’m sure Arteta has his own preferences. I’m sure I read that Havertz will miss the first few weeks of the season.
We have to hope for the best but we saw how important a good start was for Liverpool.
Have just read Kevs post,that’s great news about Havertz.
That’ll be a shame if another young player is moved on. I thought he had a bright future with us. Oh well, it is what it is I guess.
I saw that re Havertz, I’d be surprised to see him back so soon though.
Agreed re next season Limey, fast start, no injuries and a good summer in the transfer window.
I’m quite glad Salah is staying at Liverpool, he should start slowing down now. 😝
Great article Rico.
I am not sure about HAvertz returning. I hope for his sake he does not or the club doesn’t rush him. Hamstrings can be an awfully irritating injury to recover from.
Like Kev I also want two forwards, one of which needs to be a CF. But with regards the 2nd striker or whatever…..why not keep Biereth?? We do have Havertz and Merino (as emergency striker) however I believe the latter should go back to midfield. Unless he cements his place and keeps scoring regularly. But I still feel we should buy Gyokeres (my preferred option).
I think that MLS should go in midfield, which if that is the case should see Arteta get another LB.
Promotion from within is a necessity. And unless Arteta gives those from the academy a chance we will never know.
My team to face Brentford….at least the starting 11……Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney; Jorginho, Zinchenko, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling
Thanks Devil, said the same re Biereth. Weird one that..
Marca reporting that unless Real turn the defecit around it’s white hanky time for Ancellotti
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c8ep6ylnwgyo
I think that the mole inside the spuddies camp is a bald guy who goes with the name Danny-el. He is directly or indirectly linked to it. When spuddies need to change coach these things surface all the time. That is my opinion of course and I might be mistaken.
Good morning all from a misty Norfolk, news today that Spuds have signed an Arsenal cast-off. Vinai Venkatesham has been appointed chief executive. He was previously at Arsenal for fourteen years.
The Sun is now rapidly burning off the mist and it looks like another lovely spring day to come.
Morning all,
Beautiful sunny morning here in west Berkshire…
New post up now.
Vinai needs to see the mental health team. 😜