Ipswich Town are closing in on the signing of forward Liam Delap from Manchester City.

The EADT and Ipswich Star reported yesterday that the 21-year-old was weighing up his options after coming to Portman Road for talks last week.

And we can confirm that a report from The Athletic's transfer guru David Ornstein - that the Blues have struck a deal with City of an initial £15m with the potential to rise to £20m with add-ons - is correct. The front man has chosen to join Ipswich over Southampton. 

Blues boss Kieran McKenna is believed to be a long-term admirer of Delap, who represented England from Under-16 to U21 level.

A versatile forward who can play wide right or up top, Delap made six senior appearances for City - including two appearances off the bench in the Premier League and one sub outing in the Champions League - as a teenager.

Since then he's had three loan spells in the Championship. In the first half of 2022/23, he scored three goals in 15 starts and eight sub appearances for Stoke. Then, in the second half of that campaign, he bagged once in six starts and one sub appearance for Preston.

The Hampshire-born youngster, who is the son of former Republic of Ireland international Rory Delap, kicked on for Hull City last season, scoring eight goals in 26 starts and six sub appearances.

Delap is the third player from Hull's squad last season that the Blues are trying to sign.

It's understood that a £35m plus add-ons package has been agreed with the Tigers for left-footed centre-back Jacob Greaves and skilful winger Jaden Philogene. Greaves' move to Portman Road is believed to be very advanced, with Town hopeful of seeing off late interest from Everton and Aston Villa in Philogene.

Ipswich Town are back in the Premier League for the first time in 22 years following back-to-back promotions, with chief executive Mark Ashton vowing to be 'brave and bold' and the transfer market.

So far, the Blues have signed recent loan star Omari Hutchinson for a club-record £18m from Chelsea and beaten plenty of competition to snap up right-back Ben Johnson after his contract at West Ham expired.