Wayne Rooney publicly expresses interest in reported West Brom target Liam Delap
Derby County manager Wayne Rooney has admitted that he is keeping tabs on Manchester City striker Liam Delap, who has recently been linked to West Brom.
The Baggies are interested in the 18-year-old and would be keen to sign him on loan if he is made available by the Premier League champions, according to the Express & Star on Thursday [05/08/21].
However, in quotes reported on the Derby Telegraph website yesterday [06/08/21], Rooney has publicly expressed his admiration for the England under-18 international.
“Liam Delap is a player I really like,” Rooney said.
“He has connections with Derby, he came through the Academy here. Whatever Manchester City are doing with Liam, we are on top of that.”
Easy decision?
It has not been confirmed whether Manchester City are willing to loan out the teenager who lit up the Premier League 2 last term, scoring 24 goals in 20 games for the under-23 side, while he struck a “stunning” [Jonathan Smith, Goal journalist] goal for the senior side in the Carabao Cup against Bournemouth last year.
Surely he will be allowed to leave on a temporary basis, though – Pep Guardiola’s side have just signed Jack Grealish for a mouthwatering sum, with Harry Kane potentially following.
Delap has proven that he can do the business at youth level, and now is the time for him to express himself in senior football.
Albion should be all over his signature if he does become available as he is not only a clinical finisher but also a robust forward standing at six-foot-one-inch.
He looks ideal for Valerien Ismael’s system, but we are likely to face intense competition for him.
But would Derby be frontrunners? He may enjoy the familiarity of going back to a club he knows so well, but Rooney’s side is in disarray at the moment and Manchester City may prefer him to go to a more settle club that is aiming for promotion.
In other West Brom news, Wayne Rooney reacts to major Albion transfer question.
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