Manchester United plan to trigger the £30m release clause in the contract of Ipswich's 22-year-old English striker Liam Delap. (Mail - subscription required, external)
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Richard Woodward
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesI have nothing constructive to add into the discourse following Ipswich's Easter Sunday defeat by Arsenal.
On a lovely sunny Suffolk afternoon, Leif Davis is now public enemy number one for those of a red persuasion, Town shipped another four goals at Portman Road, and ultimately nothing new was learned. Bring on the summer please.
Something I found more egregious to discuss was the contents of a tweet posted by football finance expert Kieran Maguire, external on social media on Monday.
Maguire explained that when Leicester and Southampton were relegated in 2022-23 and promoted back the following season, £102m in parachute payments were saved.
He added that Burnley and Leeds' promotion back to the top flight will save a further £51m.
These "savings", and hopefully you can see this coming, do not get pumped into charitable causes (at least directly), nor do they help level the playing field to the rest of the pyramid or bolster the grassroots game. No, these savings are split between Premier League clubs like some kind of misery dividend.
And while the gathering debate among football pundits about the increasing anti-competitive disparity between the Premier League and EFL is helpful (if not somewhat belated), it seems to be just talk while those with the power to act – the Premier League and the member clubs - do nothing, or worse are incentivised to maintain it.
That Premier League clubs benefit from certain clubs yo-yoing up and down like some kind of horrible purgatory (something I fear for my team Ipswich) and it is this group that have the influence to make change.
What chance does the wider game have? After all, turkeys don't vote for Christmas (nor eggs for Easter etc.).
Find more from Richard Woodward at the Blue Monday Podcast, external
BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club panel discuss Liam Delap's reported release clause in his contract, with the striker heavily linked with a move away from Ipswich this summer.
Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Premier League striker Glenn Murray is unsure whether Kieran McKenna will remain at Ipswich Town next season as he is likely to be on the radar of other clubs this summer.
Reflecting on Ipswich's fight to stay in the top-flight this season and what could lie ahead for them next season, Murray told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast: "I think McKenna's name will be bandied about this summer for other jobs.
"Even though he does have a specific style of play, I do feel like he he has tried to adapt it in the Premier League compared to how he set them up in League One and the Championship.
"When you zoom out from this season, he has done an absolutely unbelievable job at Ipswich. So regardless of whether he is their manager or not next season, I think he will always be remembered fondly.
"Of the three promoted teams, Ipswich made the best go of it. They did some good business in the transfer window and Liam Delap was a great signing.
"They might struggle to keep hold of him, but if they can the nucleus of that squad together then they will be right up at the top of the Championship table next season.
"Whether McKenna will be in charge, I don't know."
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Ipswich Town and Arsenal.
Here are some of your comments:
Ipswich fans
Matthew: Pathetic. Sums up the whole season. I don't think we have given it a good go at all. We should have defended for our lives from the off, not try to play like we did in the Championship. Very disappointing season, aside from Liam Delap.
Bob: The class difference was so obvious. It was a very one-sided game. I'm sorry to say this as a Ipswich supporter and having been on such a wonderful journey after being promoted twice. But with only four wins the whole season and having 77 goals scored against us, we can't hide from the facts. It's been an extremely disappointing season. But being a glass half full person , we can rebuild with Premier League players, and have the added bonus of playing Norwich twice.
Tim: Beyond the obvious headlines, look at Axel Tuanzebe. He was exceptional. Cool, professional and trustworthy. Under threat constantly and dealt with that so well. Class act.
Arsenal fans
Pat: First class performance on the back of two great results in the Champions League, but needed to get back to winning ways in the Premier League. The energy didn't drop from the first whistle to the last. Excellent performance - the future looks very promising.
Tim: Dominant performance. Attack versus defence for most of the match and felt like watching a training game, which suits us just fine. Great opportunity to give minutes to players like Ben White to help their return. Hopefully no damage to Bukayo Saka and he is fit for the PSG games.
Terry: Dominant against poor opposition. The Ipswich sending off made no difference. Too much fussing around in the box where shooting chances were in abundance. Keep the rhythm going, take the chances and finish the final league games with a flourish. Full of confidence going into the PSG games.
Highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.
If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.
Listen back to Sunday's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Image source, Getty ImagesIpswich boss Kieran McKenna, speaking to Sky Sports after the 4-0 defeat to Arsenal: "It was a tough afternoon.
"The first half an hour was really difficult, Arsenal played really well and we were at full stretch to try and compete with them.
"After the red card and getting to half time I thought the group did really well in the second half. The game was almost done and we had to show the right values and we did that. They scored two goals off short corners.
"The opponent was too strong for us today when 11 v 11 and with 10 men it was almost impossible."
Image source, Getty ImagesLeif Davis' dismissal was the first red card of his career in English football, on what was his 152nd appearance. Arriving in the 32nd minute, it was the earliest sending off for an Ipswich player in a Premier League match since Phil Whelan in December 1994, also against Arsenal (23rd minute).
Were you at the game or following elsewhere?
Have your say on Ipswich's performance
What did you make of Arsenal's display?
Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies
Four matches make up Sunday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.
Fulham v Chelsea
Ipswich v Arsenal
Manchester United v Wolves
Leicester v Liverpool (16:30 BST)
All kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated
Arsenal will be on such a high after their Champions League win over Real Madrid.
I am covering this game and while Arteta will probably rest a few players and freshen things up, the Gunners will still have too much nous for Ipswich.
It probably summed up Ipswich's season that they went 2-0 up against Chelsea last time out and could not see out the win, but they deserve credit for giving it a good go.
Ipswich were pretty stubborn when they lost 1-0 at Emirates Stadium in December and I am expecting them to show some resilience this time too, even if they end up with the same result.
Sutton's prediction: 0-2
Image source, Getty ImagesIpswich winger Jack Clarke says the club are "much better equipped" to be promoted again should they be relegated back to the Championship this season.
Kieran McKenna's side finished second and were promoted on 96 points in the 2023-24 campaign, but look resigned to an immediate return to the second tier, which could be confirmed this weekend.
When asked if the club are in a strong place to return, Clarke said: "Everybody does - you'd be stupid not to.
"They finished second last season and I think everybody at the club would argue they're very much better equipped now for if they were back in the Championship now to what they were last season.
"I think the trajectory of the club is always going to be on the up - it just depends if and when what exactly happens."
Clarke joined Ipswich for an initial fee of £15 last summer but has struggled for form in the top flight, managing just nine starts without scoring.
"Nobody had really played at this level before and its a case of learning what works, seeing what doesn't work and that has just come with time," the 24-year-old added.
"It's hard to dwell on games when you've always got another big one coming up.
"For everybody, it's just been a learning curve and hopefully we can be better for it.
"Sometimes you do feel a little bit starstruck when you line up against the top teams in these prestigious stadiums, but I think that's something you have to take while it's in front of you.
"Weirdly, its probably been one of the most enjoyable seasons without winning many games in terms of the experience and the level we have competed again. It will be one we can all appreciate much longer down the line in our lives."
Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport multi-platform journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesIpswich's relegation back to the Championship could be confirmed this weekend if results go against them, but it would likely have been sewn up earlier if not for the heroics of in-demand Liam Delap.
As the graphic shows, only Alexander Isak, Bruno Fernandes and Mohammed Salah have been more influential in terms of their teams' goal contributions than Delap in the Premier League this season.
In fact, Delap has scored a higher percentage of Ipswich's goals this season than any other player in their Premier League history.
Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport journalist
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Portman Road (kick-off 14:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
McKenna confirmed January signing Jaden Philogene will "pretty much definitely" not feature again this season after sustaining a knee injury in last weekend's draw at Chelsea.
He also added that Omari Hutchinson and Kalvin Phillips both remain out for Sunday's fixture, but forward Liam Delap has trained and will be assessed.
McKenna understands that Town are likely to "fall short" this season but even if they do, they will be in "a real strong position" going into 2025-26.
On Ben Johnson's form: "He has built well over the course of the season and has certainly been in good form over the past few games. He is making good progress and getting his reward. Long may it continue."
He expressed his desire to keep Axel Tuanzebe at the club beyond this season, labelling him as a "very important player" for the side.
Finally, on the challenge of Arsenal: "We believe in ourselves and we believe if we execute every part of our game right then we have a chance and we can compete even with the best. If we do all that, and it's our day, then there is a chance we can get it on Sunday."
Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Ipswich v Arsenal at 14:00 on Sunday
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Image source, Getty ImagesIpswich have never won in 11 previous Premier League meetings with Arsenal (D2 L9). It is the most they have faced a side without a victory in the competition, while the Gunners have only faced Portsmouth more often without losing (14).
Arsenal have won their last 10 Premier League games against teams starting the day in the relegation zone by an aggregate score of 30-2.
Ipswich have dropped 27 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other side. They have only won one out of six games in 2025 when they have taken the lead (D3 L2).
Ipswich have seen an upturn in form with four points from their past three games, but it looks like too little, too late for their chances of Premier League survival.
Is there something else that is slipping under the radar? What is the one thing - good or bad - nobody is talking about in relation to Ipswich?
Ipswich striker Liam Delap will turn down a move to Manchester United this summer. (Star), external
Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Seb Brown
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesThe chant "10 more years Delap, 10 more years" rang out from the away end on Sunday as Ipswich gained an unlikely point away at Chelsea.
Liam Delap started on the bench at Stamford Bridge but has been the talking point all week after news broke of a £30m relegation release clause in his contract.
The reaction to this news amongst the fan base has been a mixture of anger and acceptance. Understandably, many are annoyed that one of the hottest young talents in English football will likely be moving on for a bargain fee.
Speculation around his valuation has been rife all season, with figures of £50-60m mentioned by the fans and the media. So to find out that he will most likely depart for about half of that figure is obviously frustrating.
While there is angst amongst the fan base, it is worth looking back at the situation the club found themselves in when Delap joined.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and very few fans would have predicted a player, who was coming in off an eight-goal Championship campaign at Hull City, would have turned out to be so impressive.
Delap has scored 12 Premier League goals this season, which is 36% of Ipswich's total, and his all-action displays are a throwback to a previous generation of centre forwards.
Unfortunately, however, if this relegation clause was a requirement of getting the initial deal done then in reality Ipswich had no choice.
Delap had already met with Southampton before signing for Town and newly-promoted sides rarely hold much advantage when trying to sign new players, because of the survival odds being stacked against them.
Town fans will get to enjoy Delap for six more games before he departs - and although £9m profit on a player after 12 months may be frustrating, it shows how quickly the club have progressed after years of poor player trading.
Trust must be given to the decision-makers at the club to always get the best deals possible and unearth another next gem for fans to serenade with songs from many away ends.
Find more from Seb Brown at the Blue Monday Podcast, external
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on Chelsea's Premier League game against Ipswich.
Here are some of your comments:
Chelsea fans
Dave: Rubbish, not much more to say - boring, negative, no flair, no style just backward sideways passing - the football we play deserves nothing. This manager is helping to kill football as an entertainment.
Stevie: Not good enough, no disrespect to Ipswich but taking only one point over two games from them is not enough. Not if we want to get Champions League and challenge for titles. Maresca-ball is boring and are we really any better than last year under Pochettino?
Peter: I've been a fan and a supporter of Chelsea for nearly 60 years now and even in the days of the 70s of relegations, I've never been so despondent towards a Chelsea team as I am now.
Ipswich fans
Tim: Good performance by Town, I was nervous at the start but we showed we can match the big clubs and Chelsea were fortunate to get the draw. We wasted first half of the season by dropping so many points against lower quality teams.
David: A gutsy display by a team who can only spend the same amount of money on their team as Chelsea spend on one player.
Saxon: Would have taken a draw before the game but gutted to lose points from a winning position yet again.
Highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.
If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.
Listen back to Sunday's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
