Striker tipped to REPLACE Darwin Nunez gets Liverpool audition

It was revealed by Anfield Watch that Liverpool had plans to sign Liam Delap long before his breakout Premier League season with Ipswich.

The Reds were interested in snatching the striker away from Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad while he was still a youth team player at Eastlands.

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Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was said to have ‘bought in’ to Delap’s talents and plans were afoot to add him to the academy.

However, the now-21-year-old’s rapid development - in and around the City first-team and out on loan - put paid to Liverpool’s attempts to bring him in.

Now a fully fledged top-flight star for the Tractor Boys, Delap is once again being eyed by the decision-makers at Anfield. The forward signed for Ipswich last year for a £19 million fee and has been a bright spot in a struggling team.

A return of eight goals from 21 games is a total plenty of forwards further up the food chain would be proud of and it has been enough for Delap to catch renewed notice from suitors.

While City boast a buyback clause, it is unlikely that Pep Guardiola will have a place for him now that he’s signed Omar Marmoush to go along with Erling Haaland. Which means that the Reds could make another attempt for Delap next summer.

Nunez future up in the air

Darwin Nunez’s Liverpool future is under considerable doubt at the moment with interest from Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal. The prospect of making back most - if not all - of the money paid to capture the Uruguayan from Benfica back in 2022 could well be enticing for Reds’ sporting director Richard Hughes.

If Liverpool manage to bid up Al Hilal to £75m, he could end up leaving, bringing down the curtain on a frustrating spell on Merseyside. And that would leave a hole in the centre of Arne Slot’s attack that cannot be adequately filled by the injury-prone Diogo Jota alone. Enter Delap.

This weekend Liverpool take on Ipswich in the Premier League.

Having overcome a stubborn side on the opening day of the season, Liverpool will be looking to complete the double over Kieran McKenna’s promoted team.

Since August, Delap has come on leaps and bounds, looking at home in the top flight following a few seasons toiling on loan in the Championship.

Ipswich are on a poor run of form - two losses from two in the Premier League - and Liverpool look a good bet to get all three points on Saturday.

Reds recruitment staff will be keeping a close eye on Delap, and maybe he will show enough promise to justify an outlay that will far outstrip the sum Ipswich paid last summer.

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