How will Ipswich Town replace Liam Delap?

Following Liam Delap's £30m move to Chelsea, we take a look at who the Tractor Boys might look at to replace him.

Losing a player of Delap's quality would be a bitter blow for most sides and in the case of Ipswich it will involve having to replace a player that contributed to over a third of their goals and assists last season.

Whilst a fee of £30m may be on the cheaper side for the 22-year-old, it does free up some funds should Kieran McKenna try to land a big name this summer.

Matthis Abline

Almost certainly the most expensive option on the list, Abline is hot property across Europe.

Currently plying his trade for Nantes in Ligue 1, he netted nine goals in the French top-flight last season and profiles very similarly to Delap.

Both just 22 years old, the duo have proven that they can mix it amongst the best in the country and rank very highly amongst their peers for progressive carries and successful take-ons.

Marc Guiu

According to reports in the East Anglian Times, Ipswich will attempt to land Marc Guiu in a bid for a swift Premier League return.

The Barcelona youth product made 14 appearances for Enzo Maresca's Chelsea on his way to a Europa Conference League triumph last season.

Guiu - who was top goalscorer at the 2023 U17 Euros - impressed during his team's successful run in Europe, scoring six goals in just four starts which included a hat-trick against Shamrock Rovers.

Stick with what they have

Often forgotten about due to recent injury problems but Ipswich Town do possess the 2023/24 Championship top goalscorer in the form of Sammie Szmodics.

Playing for 19th placed Blackburn, the Republic of Ireland international netted 27 times across the 46-game season to steer his side clear of the drop.

Despite these numbers Szmodics wouldn't be your conventional number nine but should he regain full fitness the goals are clearly there.

Even without Szmodics, Ipswich still have plenty of goalscoring talent from wide with both Jack Clarke and Jaden Philogene amongst the best players in the division.