West Brom want to sign ‘killer’ Manchester City striker Liam Delap on loan
Steve Bruce is already making moves to sign a striker for West Brom and has identified Liam Delap as his main target, according to Alan Nixon.
The 19-year-old has scored hatfuls of goals for Manchester City’s youth teams over the past two seasons and now the Baggies boss has contacted the club over a potential loan deal for the season.
Delap could have been sold earlier in the window but the Citizens rejected a £16million offer from Southampton [Daily Mail] and they are now mulling over the proposal from West Brom.
Pep Guardiola is an admirer of the teenager and had high praise for him after an FA Cup win last season, saying: “Liam (Delap) last season grew up a lot. He is the type of striker we do not have – a killer, a typical British striker. He has special qualities,” as quoted by SI.com.
There are also several Championship sides also in the race but Bruce hopes that his desperate striker situation may sway City with game time almost guaranteed at The Hawthorns.
Must buy
He might only stay at the club for 12 months, if he joins at all, but during that time Delap would endear himself to the West Brom supporters like no other.
The teenager, with caps for England’s youth sides, has that clinical edge that Karlan Grant is severely lacking and it has been those missed chances that have seen Bruce’s side have a slow start to the season.
The two points they have on the board could easily be the full nine if Grant could finish his tea at the first time of asking and the boss is well aware of his downfalls.
Delap, while unproven, does have all of that nouse to be the true goal poacher Albion need to tuck away the wealth of chances they will create with Jed Wallace and John Swift in the side.
Baggies fans may have to break the unwritten rule of falling in love with a loan player this season but it would be worth it if promotion is at the end of the road.
In other West Brom news, Daryl Dike’s injury layoff could threaten his chances of playing in the World Cup as Albion suffer deja vu.