Category Sports News

Ipswich forward Liam Delap is exploring his options for next season, says manager Kieran McKenna.

The 22-year-old joined the Tractor Boys from Manchester City in a deal worth up to £20m last summer but is expected to leave the club following their relegation back to the Championship after just one campaign in the Premier League.

Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle have all been linked with a move for the England Under-21 international, who has a £30m relegation release clause in his contract, while City also hold a buy-back option.

“Liam’s looking at his options for next year, which I think he is entitled to do and we support him with that,” said McKenna

“I think we have given him permission to do that this week. It’s a very important decision for his future. Of course there is a lot of interest – and rightly so. I think part of his week has been having some of those conversations.

“It looks more likely than not that he will move on this summer and he has interest from pretty much every club in the league, and I don’t think there are many clubs in the world who wouldn’t want to have him.

“Nothing is sorted, nothing is done or completed or even very, very, very close, so that process will take its course.”

Delap will look to add to his 12 goals in 36 Premier League appearances when Ipswich host West Ham on Sunday (16:00 BST).

However, no other Ipswich player has got close to double figures in the top flight with the club’s swift return to the second tier confirmed in April.

“We will be proud of the part that we have had in terms of Liam’s development and his contribution this season,” McKenna added.

“If he stays with us, we will be delighted, and if he moves on this summer, it will be a positive sign for the club to have developed and sold a player at that sort of level and hopefully it will be a good move for him as well.”

Manager Kieran McKenna has given Ipswich forward Liam Delap permission to talk to other clubs and explore “his options” for the upcoming season.

The 22-year-old left Manchester City last summer in a deal worth up to £20 million, but he is expected to leave the club in the wake of their relegation from the Premier League after just one season there.

The England Under-21 international, who has a £30 million relegation release clause in his contract, has attracted interest from Manchester United, Chelsea, and Newcastle, as well as a buy-back option from City.

According to McKenna, “Liam is looking at his options for the following year,” which he does and that we support.

This week, I believe we gave him permission to do that. It will be a very important choice for his future. Naturally, there is a lot of interest, and that’s on purpose. I believe some of those conversations occurred during his week.

He has interest from pretty much every club in the league, and I don’t think there are many clubs in the world who wouldn’t want him to move on this summer. “It seems more likely than not that he will move on.

“Nothing is resolved, nothing is finished, or even very close, very quickly, so that process will continue.”

When Ipswich host West Ham on Sunday at 6:00 BST, Delap will look to add to his 12 goals in 36 Premier League games.

No other Ipswich player, whose swift return to the second tier was confirmed in April, has ever achieved double figures in the top flight.

“We will be proud of the impact that Liam’s development and his contribution this season have had,” McKenna continued.

“If he stays with us, we will be delighted, and if he leaves this summer, it will be a positive sign that the club has developed and sold a player at that level, and it will hopefully be a good move for him as well,” he said.

Manager Michael Wimmer has left Motherwell to join Jahn Regensburg, who will play in Germany’s third tier next season.

The 44-year-old took charge of last Sunday’s final Scottish Premiership match of the season, a 1-1 draw at Ross County, and returned to his native Germany.

He told club officials earlier this week he would not be back at Fir Park next season because of family reasons, leaving the Lanarkshire club hunting for a new boss.

Wimmer, who has thanked Well for their “support”, replaced Stuart Kettlewell in February and won five and drew three of his 12 matches in charge.

“I want to thank the board and all the staff at the club for the way they welcomed me to Scotland and also supported me so much from when I arrived in February,” Wimmer said.

“They have done everything to support me and my family during my time here. This has been an ongoing, extremely difficult position that I have found myself in and the club have done all they could to support me during these challenging times, both whilst I was in post and while I have been back in Germany.

“I am sorry to all the Motherwell fans; the support you have shown me has been outstanding and I have loved learning about this wonderful club.

“This decision was an extremely hard one for me to make; however, I have decided to move back home as I need to put my family first and be with them and I want to thank the board for the understanding shown through these challenging times.

Wimmer previously led Austria Vienna after a spell as interim boss at Stuttgart.

Jahn Regensburg were relegated after finishing bottom of the Bundesliga’s second division this season.

Wimmer’s exit leaves four Premiership clubs seeking a new manager – Dundee, Kilmarnock, Rangers and now Motherwell.

With Heart of Midlothian having taken Derek McInnes from Kilmarnock as their new head coach, at least five of 12 top-flight clubs will start the new season under new management.

Motherwell said Wimmer had “reached out to the chairman and chief executive of the club to inform them that he would like to remain in Germany” and become Jahn Regensburg boss.

“Wimmer explained the reasons for wishing to accept the new role were predominantly due to major family issues that have recently arisen in Germany,” said the club in a statement.

“Following extensive conversations with Michael, the club very reluctantly negotiated a compensation package with SSV Jahn Regensburg.

Manager Michael Wimmer has left Motherwell to join Jahn Regensburg, who will play in Germany’s third tier next season.

The 44-year-old took charge of last Sunday’s final Scottish Premiership match of the season, a 1-1 draw at Ross County, and returned to his native Germany.

He told club officials earlier this week he would not be back at Fir Park next season because of family reasons, leaving the Lanarkshire club hunting for a new boss.

Wimmer, who has thanked Well for their “support”, replaced Stuart Kettlewell in February and won five and drew three of his 12 matches in charge.

“I want to thank the board and all the staff at the club for the way they welcomed me to Scotland and also supported me so much from when I arrived in February,” Wimmer said.

“They have done everything to support me and my family during my time here. This has been an ongoing, extremely difficult position that I have found myself in and the club have done all they could to support me during these challenging times, both whilst I was in post and while I have been back in Germany.

“I am sorry to all the Motherwell fans; the support you have shown me has been outstanding and I have loved learning about this wonderful club.

“This decision was an extremely hard one for me to make; however, I have decided to move back home as I need to put my family first and be with them and I want to thank the board for the understanding shown through these challenging times.

Wimmer previously led Austria Vienna after a spell as interim boss at Stuttgart.

Jahn Regensburg were relegated after finishing bottom of the Bundesliga’s second division this season.

Wimmer’s exit leaves four Premiership clubs seeking a new manager – Dundee, Kilmarnock, Rangers and now Motherwell.

With Heart of Midlothian having taken Derek McInnes from Kilmarnock as their new head coach, at least five of 12 top-flight clubs will start the new season under new management.

Motherwell said Wimmer had “reached out to the chairman and chief executive of the club to inform them that he would like to remain in Germany” and become Jahn Regensburg boss.

“Wimmer explained the reasons for wishing to accept the new role were predominantly due to major family issues that have recently arisen in Germany,” said the club in a statement.

“Following extensive conversations with Michael, the club very reluctantly negotiated a compensation package with SSV Jahn Regensburg.

Newport County have named Manchester United youth coach David Hughes as their new manager.

Hughes has signed a two-year deal at the League Two club, leaving his role as under-21s coach and assistant manager at Old Trafford.

The 47-year-old Welshman replaces Nelson Jardim at Rodney Parade, who left the Exiles two weeks before the end of the season.

“Leaving a great club like Manchester United is never easy, but I’m excited about what lies ahead here,” Hughes said.

“You build relationships with people and that makes decisions like this challenging.

Hughes, a former Aston Villa, Shrewsbury Town and Cardiff City defender, had been the leading contender for the job following Jardim’s exit by mutual consent.

Having held lead academy roles at Cardiff and Southampton before joining United in August 2022, Hughes has developed an impressive reputation at youth level.

He will now be charged by Jenkins to oversee an upturn in fortunes at Rodney Parade for a youthful squad that finished 22nd in 2024-25.

The Wrexham-born former Wales Under-21s international – who also spent four years as manager of Wales Under-17s – will be assisted by Wayne Hatswell, who was previously number two at Newport under Mike Flynn.

Due to his involvement in a “small issue” during training, Joao Pedro will miss Brighton’s final game of the Premier League season at Tottenham.

The Brazil international was reportedly involved in a training ground altercation with defender Jan Paul van Hecke during Monday’s 3-2 home win over Liverpool.

The Seagulls have won 10 Premier League games this season, but the 23-year-old has missed their last four matches after receiving a red card in Brentford’s 4-2 defeat on April 19.

“With Joao, we had a small issue in training,” according to Joao, which isn’t uncommon at all football clubs. The issue has been resolved internally, according to head coach Fabian Hurzeler.

Joao is a fantastic player, a match-winner for us, and that’s why we invested in him.

There are some non-negotiable values that everyone must adhere to, such as the principle of not making any compromises.

Joseph is still a young player, he said. He will develop, and I’m confident that he will take lessons from this and emerge stronger next season. I’m really looking forward to seeing him at his best when he’s been revived and renewed.

Georginio Rutter, 23, will also miss the game against the newly crowned Europa League champions after failing to recover from an ankle injury.

With Crystal Palace’s FA Cup victory making it possible for them to earn a spot in the Europa League, Brighton, who are eighth overall, will enter the game with qualification still in doubt.