STRIKER DELAP IS TIPPED FOR LOAN SPELL IN NEW SEASON
LIAM Delap is expected to go out on loan to get his first regular taste of senior football, according to reports. The 19-year-old striker, son of Stoke City legend and current first-team coach Rory Delap, has been tipped for great things as he has shown glimpses of his potential in the junior ranks at Manchester City. Injuries frustrated the speed of his progress last season, when Pep Guardiola wanted to keep him in-house and now game time might be more difficult to come by. Guardiola has spent big money to sign Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, although Gabriel Jesus could be heading for the exit.
Now The Athletic’s Sam Lee claims that Delap is ‘expected to go on loan’ while clubs are also queuing up for his highly-rated youth teammate James Mcatee, who has been linked with Leeds and Southampton as well as Huddersfield. Premier League managers are all aware of Delap Jr, with Southampton linked strongest, and it remains to be seen if Guardiola would be attracted by the romance of letting him have a spell in the Potteries. A strong start to the season in the top flight could even put him in contention for a World Cup spot.
Clubs across the Championship are keeping an eye on which other youngsters Man City might let out for development over the next few months. There were more than two dozen let out on loan last season. Taylor Harwood-bellis, who spent the second half of last season at Stoke, has been linked with Burnley and Celtic. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu excelled at Portsmouth and Tommy Doyle, grandson of former Stoke defender Mike Doyle, did well at Cardiff after joining in January. Swansea and Blackpool have been linked with winger Morgan Rogers, who had a frustrating time at Bournemouth after catching the eye at Lincoln. Midfielder Lewis Fiorini, aged 20, flourished at Lincoln and is expected to make the step up to the Championship this time around.
The same is probably true for 18-year-old ball-playing defender Callum Doyle, who helped Sunderland win promotion. Patrick Roberts, the 25-year-old who was on Man City’s books and was a Stoke target in 2020, signed a short-term deal with Sunderland in January and they want him to stay.