Manchester United are reportedly leading the race to sign Delap, who is attracted to the idea of joining a team with a strong squad and a clear plan for his development. Delap is also being courted by Chelsea, however, as the Blues aim to build a top-notch academy.

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown believes that Delap would be hesitant to join Chelsea due to the competition for places in the team. In contrast, Brown thinks that Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim can offer Delap the regular playing time and opportunities he craves.

Amorim is undertaking a significant overhaul of his squad, with over 10 players expected to leave the team. With top scorer Bruno Fernandes struggling to deliver, Delap sees an opportunity to become a key player at Manchester United and provide a boost to the team's attacking efforts.

Brown thinks that Delap will be drawn to Manchester United's promise of regular minutes and the chance to make a real impact. "He needs to go somewhere he knows he'll play, and he knows he'll play at United," Brown said.