Liam Delap may have been unable to break out of Erling Haaland’s shadow at Manchester City but he has the chance to eclipse the prolific Norwegian this weekend. The City Academy graduate has impressed since swapping the Etihad Stadium for Ipswich last summer, scoring eight goals so far this season as the Tractor Boys try to establish themselves in the Premier League.
The 21-year-old moved on having realised he was unlikely to supplant Haaland as Pep Guardiola’s first-choice centre-forward. Haaland’s remarkable output – 111 goals in 126 appearances for City – was rewarded with a suitably extraordinary new contract on Friday, with the former Borussia Dortmund frontman signing a nine-and-a-half-year deal worth a reported £500,000 per week.
Delap, who made six first-team appearances at City, will come up against his old club on Sunday as the champions travel to Portman Road. With City faltering this term and falling well off the pace in their pursuit of a fifth successive title, Ipswich and Delap may fancy their chances as they battle for top-flight survival.
“He’s doing really well,” said City manager Guardiola. “So many players have come up from this academy and they have settled perfectly in the Premier League. “When he was here, we always thought he was a typical striker for the Premier League and he’s doing really well. We are happy for him.”.
