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Southampton consider loan move for Manchester City's Liam Delap - report
Southampton are considering making a loan move for Manchester City forward Liam Delap in the summer, according to The Sun.
The 19-year-old could potentially replace another loanee from a top Premier League side as Chelsea’s Armando Broja has been a hit this season but may not be around next year.
The Saints want to keep the Albanian but face competition, and he may be set for a role back at Stamford Bridge, so attentions have turned to Manchester.
Delap has made appearances for England in every age group up to under-19 level, and has featured for Pep Guardiola’s first team six times, including twice in the Premier League.
But with competition for places at the Etihad Stadium understandably high, a move to the south coast could benefit both sides, with St Mary’s becoming a destination for young talent of late after Broja’s former teammate in west London Tino Livramento also moved on a permanent deal.
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Although the fate of the team under Austrian manager Hasenhuttl seems to fluctuate wildly he has proven to have a good eye for emerging players.
Both Broja and Livramento have featured often and been successful, even if the club are currently only sitting in 15th place in the Premier League.
If Delap can emulate those two then it would be a logical move to spend a season on loan, as his path to the first team at City is set to be blocked by the impending arrivals of Julian Alvarez and the not inconsiderable figure of Erling Haaland.
Delap clearly has quality himself as he has scored eight times in just 10 appearances in Premier League 2 this season.
But while Phil Foden was able to break through to become a key first-team contributor without going out on loan, he is the exception rather than the rule at the club.
A goal in the Carabao Cup is a start, but Delap would surely have more opportunities to open his account in the top flight and put himself either into the thoughts of Guardiola or the shop window if he went elsewhere for some first-team football.
In other Southampton news, Livramento’s strong debut season for the club was ended by a season-ending knee injury.