The number of players that Saints have bought when shopping at Manchester City, you would think we would be part of their loyalty club card scheme and get discount as well as special offers, now it seems we are heading back to the Etihad again with our credit card.

The player we are being linked with according to footballinsider247.com is not a new name on the block, indeed his father Rory was a club record signing back in 2001, I am of course referring to Liam Delap whom we were interested in last season, who was born during his father's time as a Saint at Winchester in February 2003, in the middle of Saints FA Cup run that saw them reach the final, losing to Arsenal at Cardiff.

The 21 year old striker has made just 2 Premier League appearances for City, but 3 loan spells over the last 2 seasons have seen him play 70 games in the Championship for firstly Stoke in the first half of the 22/23 season where he made 22 appearances scoring3 goals.

In the January of that season he returned to Man City briefly before going out on loan to Preston North End, his spell there saw just 1 goal in 15 appearances.

With stats like that, a year ago it was a surprise that there was big interest in him from Championship clubs, Saints were interested in him, but he eventually went to Hull City.

At Hull he played 31 games, 26 of them in the starting line up, but he would score just 8 goals, a better return than the previous season, but still not the total you would expect for a striker in the Championship, bearing in mind Adam Armstrong scored 21 goals, Che Adams 16 and although he didn't score or play much for us, the previous season Ross Stewart scored 10 Championship goals for Sunderland in just 13 appearances before his season ending injury.

So the question most people will be asking will be why Southampton and indeed Ipswich Town seem to be so interested in Liam Delap.

His stats just don't add up, 68 Championship games played and just 12 goals, that a goals per game ratio of 5.67 games per goal, it is not like he has a lot of assists, just 2.

Yes he has been a prolific scorer in Manchester City's Premier League 2 campaign, but he hasn't showed it in the men's game.

Personally I find it hard to see what he would bring to our attack that we don't already have, in Adam Armstrong we have a prolific Championship scorer, in Ross Steward we have another proven at that level, in Dom Ballard we have a youngster chomping at the bit and with a similar scoring record in Premier League 2 as Delap.

As have mentioned in the article Russell Martin Has To Target Three Crucial Experienced Signings we need proven experience in the Premier League up front if we are to survive next season, let alone prosper.

Liam Delap does not come with the proven pedigree we need, his current valuation is around £7 million, so yes he would be a cheap gamble, but not one we need to take.

So for me I would step back and let Ipswich have him.

Photo: Action Images

WestSussexSaint added 13:19 - Jul 9 My view is that in signing a new striker it’s about quality rather than quantity. I would rather the lub spend a decent fee on a player that will give you 15+ goals in the season than spend the same money on 2 or 3 individuals who are unproven or may not have the same return. Get the focal point and then the others can chip in with 5-10 goals each. We might be lucky in that Ross Stewart proves to be able to step up but that is one hell of a gamble so spend the money on an insurance policy. The above applies even if Che Adams re-signs.

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GRIM added 14:25 - Jul 9 Delap would be an expensive risk. He's unproven at Premier lge level & not exactly been prolific in Championship. All of the forwards (CA + AA + RS) have much record of scoring in Championship so why would we spend 20m on Delap. He could be good but most likely be nothing special. I seriously think we need an upgrade on what we've already got & Delap is not that. If we don't manage to get anyone in then give Dom Ballatd an opportunity, his goalscoring record is every bit as good as Delaps. It looks like Delap will choose to sign for The Tractor Boys, that will save us wasting 15m + add ons.

4

DellBoyWally added 14:26 - Jul 9 Keep up. Delap said to have signed for Ipswich @ £15m plus add-ons!
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GRIM added 14:27 - Jul 9 That's a relief.
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IanRC added 15:15 - Jul 9 Just as well you dont fancy him because it looks like he chose Ipswich over us (obviously not too bright). As I said this striker window is starting to look a bit of a disaster already.
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JoeEgg added 15:48 - Jul 9 It's all very well going on about signing a 'quality' striker - but can anyone come up with a name - and a player willing to risk moving to Saints? Or will this be the year of Ross Stewart?!!
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SaintPaulVW added 15:57 - Jul 9 According to the Athletic, he's signed for Ipswich £15 mill plus £5 mill add-ons. Apparently we had agreed much the same with Ipswich but player chose them over us.
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Jesus_02 added 23:35 - Jul 9 This and Ings is just paper talk. The deal Ipswich have could rise to 20m! Thats a mad gamble
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