Transfer Rumours: Liam Delap Future, Szczesny To Al-Nassr, Worrall To Sheffield United
Manchester City are reportedly set to part ways with young striker Liam Delap during the summer transfer window. The 21-year-old has returned to the Etihad after a productive loan spell at Hull City, where he scored eight goals and provided two assists in 31 Championship matches during the 2023-24 season.
Despite missing a few months due to a serious knee injury, Delap’s efforts were not enough to help Hull City achieve a top-six finish. The England Under-21 international is under contract with the Premier League champions until 2026, but according to The Sun, City are prepared to sell him to a Premier League rival this summer.
As Delap is a home-grown player, City are particularly motivated to offload him for Financial Fair Play reasons and are reportedly asking for £10m. However, the club may seek to include a buy-back clause in any deal for the striker, who has scored once in six appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side.
In Italy, Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is reportedly in advanced talks to join Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr. The former Arsenal goalkeeper, who has established himself in Serie A and as Poland’s number one, has a contract expiring next summer.
With no extension forthcoming, Szczesny is expected to leave Turin during the summer transfer window. He was briefly linked with a surprising return to the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, but that move did not materialize. According to Fabrizio Romano, the 34-year-old is now negotiating a transfer to Al-Nassr, where he would join stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Aymeric Laporte, Sadio Mane, and Marcelo Brozovic.
Szczesny’s potential move to Saudi Arabia could see him replace another former Arsenal goalkeeper, 35-year-old David Ospina, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the month.
Juventus have already arranged an €18m (£15.2m) deal to sign Monza’s Michele Di Gregorio as Szczesny’s replacement, despite Liverpool’s reported attempts to hijack the move for the Italian goalkeeper.
In the UK, Sheffield United have reportedly shown interest in acquiring Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall this summer. The 27-year-old is returning to the City Ground after a loan spell with Turkish giants Besiktas during the second half of the 2023-24 season, where he made nine appearances and scored once.
Besiktas are not expected to exercise their option to sign Worrall permanently. Despite being under contract with Forest for another two seasons, he is considered surplus to requirements. According to Football Insider, relegated Sheffield United are interested in signing the former England Under-21 international, who is likely to be among several players sold by Forest this summer.
A fee of £4m is reportedly sufficient to secure Worrall, who has scored five goals and provided six assists in 226 appearances for Nottingham Forest since graduating from their youth system.
Finally, newly-promoted Premier League club Ipswich Town are reportedly considering a move for Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Carl Rushworth. The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Swansea City, where he played in all 46 Championship games and kept nine clean sheets.
Despite extending his contract with Brighton until 2027 last year, Rushworth is currently behind Bart Verbruggen and Jason Steele in the pecking order. According to The Sun, Ipswich are contemplating an approach for the Englishman, whether on a permanent basis or as a loan deal.
However, Ipswich will need to compete with Swansea, who are reportedly keen to retain Rushworth for the 2024-25 season. Although Rushworth has yet to make a senior appearance for Brighton, he has gained valuable experience on loan with Lincoln City and Walsall.
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