Chelsea are set to complete the signing of highly-rated striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, beating rivals Manchester United and Newcastle United to the 22-year-old’s signature.

Delap, who joined Ipswich from Manchester City last summer in a £15m deal, impressed in his debut Premier League campaign despite the club’s relegation. The England Under-21 international scored 12 goals in 42 appearances, attracting attention from several top-flight clubs looking to bolster their attacking options.

The striker had a £30m relegation release clause inserted into his contract, and with Ipswich dropping back to the Championship, Chelsea moved swiftly to trigger it.

Manchester United were thought to be leading the race at one point, but BBC Sport reports that Chelsea’s qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League was the key factor in Delap’s decision. The Blues clinched fourth place on the final day of the Premier League season with a crucial win against Nottingham Forest, guaranteeing their return to Europe’s top competition.

In contrast, United’s loss to Tottenham in the Europa League final condemned them to a season without European football — a blow that ultimately saw them lose out in the chase for Delap.

Delap is now expected to undergo a medical on Monday before finalising his move to Stamford Bridge. His arrival signals yet another ambitious move by Enzo Maresca, who is keen to build a youthful and dynamic squad ahead of the Club World Cup and Champions League return.

Welcome to Chelsea, Liam Delap – the future is Blue. 💙