Liam Delap is poised to move out on loan to Championship outfit Stoke City.
The highly-rated Manchester City forward will join the Potters on a season-long placement aimed at enhancing his development. There will be a familiar face at Stoke too, with Delap's father Rory on the coaching staff at the bet365 Stadium.
The arrival of marquee signing Erling Haaland as well as Julian Alvarez this summer has meant Delap's chances of first team action this season have diminished. But the move to the Potteries is seen very much as a temporary move. There is no clause for the deal to be made permanent and indeed it was only last year that Delap signed a new contract that ties him down to the Etihad until the summer of 2026.
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Speaking earlier this year, following his return to the first team after a difficult spell on the sidelines City chief Pep Guardiola showed just how highly he rates the 19-year-old saying: "Liam last season grew up a lot especially with (under-23 coach) Enzo Maresca helping him to develop. He is a type of striker we don’t have, a killer, typical British striker. He's a special striker we don’t have, a lovely guy, fighter, every training session, every time he fights and wins the duels or break his nose. Fight and fight and fight and right moment he is good. For the quality he has he will get what he deserves."
Of course, since then Haaland has arrived on the scene and whilst it may mean Delap's chances of being top dog remain slim for the next few years, it does not rule out the possibility of him becoming a fixture in and around the first team.
Despite his potential, Delap has made just six senior appearances for City and so Guardiola will hope the move to join Michael O'Neill's side pays off handsomely. A spell in the Championship will present him with the opportunity of regular football and will be a good acid test after his prolific record in the under-23s.
Guardiola has laid down the gauntlet to Delap, saying: "The EDS process has gone, is done (for Delap). He has to try and go there and play."
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