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Topics: Manchester City, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Ipswich Town, Pep Guardiola, Liam Delap
John McDougall
Topics: Manchester City, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Ipswich Town, Pep Guardiola, Liam Delap
Manchester City could turn to re-signing one of their former youngsters after it was revealed Pep Guardiola's side are 'keeping tabs' on an ex-player of theirs.
City have endured perhaps the most difficult spell of Guardiola's time at the Etihad Stadium since joining the club back in 2016 after suffering five losses in a row in all competitions.
Over the weekend, Guardiola's side were stunned by Tottenham Hotspur as the North London outfit thrashed them 4-0 at home.
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James Maddison's first-half double put Spurs 2-0 up to stun City, with Pedro Porro netting a third for shortly after half-time before Brennan Johnson completed the rout in injury time.
The result left City trailing current Premier League leaders Liverpool by eight points after Arne Slot's side came from behind to beat Southampton 3-2 and extend their advantage at the summit of the table.
City are back in action this evening in the Champions League as they take on Dutch side Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium and Guardiola's men currently sit 10th in the new-look expanded group stage table.
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One area of the City squad which is perhaps light is at centre-forward, with Erling Haaland the only senior option available following Julian Alvarez's sale in the summer to Atletico Madrid.
And one player City could turn to in a bid to reinforce their striking options is a youngster who came through the club's youth team ranks and only left permanently over the summer.
Liam Delap joined City's academy back in 2019 from Derby County and prior to leaving this summer, spent loan spells away at Championship sides Stoke City, Preston North End and Hull City.
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Delap, the son of former Stoke player Rory, made a total of six appearances for City and scored once in his time there, but moved to promoted Ipswich Town over the summer for a reported fee of up to £20 million, penning a five-year deal at Portman Road.
The 21-year-old has impressed so far for the Tractor Boys, scoring six Premier League goals, and that form appears to have attracted the attentions of Delap's former club.
According to Football Insider, City are 'keeping tabs' on Delap and it is believed a buy-back clause was inserted into the deal which took him to Suffolk.
A sell-on clause is also said to be present should Ipswich eventually sell Delap to a club aside from City but the report states City will 'weigh up the merits' of exercising the forward's buy-back clause when it becomes active.