After Manchester United’s disappointing loss to Tottenham in the final, Liam Delap has suddenly become a top priority again. The club is even prepared to increase their offer, suggesting a sense of urgency—or desperation. But this raises a core issue: if Delap is the best striker United can manage right now, what does that say about the club’s current state?

Goldbridge’s central concern with the Liam Delap problem is this: United need 20 Premier League goals next season. That’s what it would take to get back into Europe—a must if they hope to avoid falling into an even deeper financial and competitive hole. But is Delap really capable of delivering that kind of output?

Concerns About Liam Delap’s All-Around Game

Goldbridge breaks down his doubts into several key areas:

1. Hold-Up and Link-Up Play

Delap doesn’t stand out in terms of hold-up or link-up ability. He’s not known for creating chances or getting assists, which is worrying considering United’s dire need for a striker who can both score and build play.

2. Lack of Assists

His assist rate is 0.03 per 90 minutes—equivalent to three assists every 100 games. To put that into perspective, even Erling Haaland has double that rate (0.06), while others like Ollie Watkins are much more productive at 0.2.

Stats Breakdown: Is He Good Enough?

Using data from Wyscout, Goldbridge provides several comparisons:

Passes Per 90

• Liam Delap: 10 passes/game, 64% accuracy
• Rasmus Højlund: 12 passes/game, 80% accuracy
• Raúl Jiménez (Fulham): 20 passes/game, 74% accuracy

Delap ranks outside the top 30 forwards in this category, which hints at limited involvement in team play.

Goals Per 90

• Delap: 0.39
• Nicolas Jackson: 0.38
• Mateta: 0.45
• Chris Wood: 0.58
• Isak: 0.7

While Delap’s goal rate is comparable to Jackson, it’s still far behind top forwards like Isak or even consistent finishers like Chris Wood.

Shots Per 90 and Conversion Rate

• Delap: 2.1 shots/90, 19% conversion
• Betto: 2.2 shots/90, 19% conversion
• Mateta: 1.8 shots/90, 24% conversion
• Chris Wood: 1.7 shots/90, 32% conversion
• Rasmus Højlund (United): 1.1 shots/90, 14% conversion

Delap is average in finishing—neither prolific nor clinical. His numbers are “mid,” and for a team that desperately needs goals, that’s a concern.

What He Does Well

Work Rate

This is the one major tick in Delap’s favor. He ranks 9th in the Premier League for offensive duels—11.6 per 90, winning 37% of them. This outperforms even Rasmus (9.2) and Mateta (8.9), showing Delap’s high energy and physical effort in games.

But as Goldbridge puts it—are we now celebrating work rate as a primary metric for Manchester United strikers?

A Project We Don’t Need

The core of the Liam Delap problem lies in the fact that he’s a “project player”, someone with potential who might blossom over time. But United don’t have time. They need immediate impact, not a striker who might be good in 2027.

This looks to Goldbridge like another Jason Wilcox youth gamble—someone affordable and promising, rather than a proven performer. He points out the hypocrisy in United’s strategy: they talk about development, but players like Garnacho are already being eyed for a sale at 20.

Is This Really the Right Time For Delap?

Delap might thrive as a second-choice striker, someone who adds depth. But leading the line for a club in crisis? That’s a tall order. Goldbridge asks a crucial question: can a 22-year-old from Ipswich be the commanding figure who demands better service and leads a broken squad? It’s hard to imagine.

The Bigger Picture

This situation reflects United’s broader struggle—a club out of Europe, lacking funds, and making reactive decisions. If they had won the final, they might’ve gone after players like Osimhen or Gyökeres. Now, they’re forced to settle, even raising Delap’s wages just to seal the deal.

Back Him, But Be Realistic

Goldbridge ends by clarifying that Delap isn’t a “crap” player. He has potential. But asking him to transform into a top-tier striker overnight is unrealistic. If United sign him, fans will support him—but expectations must be tempered.

Because right now, the Liam Delap problem isn’t just about the player. It’s about what his signing says about where Manchester United are heading.