Liam Delap has emerged as one of the Premier Leagueâs breakout stars this season, though one of his toughest tests came against a standout performer from Nottingham Forest.
Forest are expected to prioritise signing a new striker this summer to ease the load on Chris Wood, who has shouldered the scoring responsibilities with 19 Premier League goals. Not far behind is Delap, who has netted 12 timesâan impressive return considering Ipswich Townâs struggles this season.
His performances havenât gone unnoticed. Back in November, Garry Birtles even urged Forest to move for Delap. With plenty of competition for his signature, Forest might appeal to the young strikerâparticularly as it would mean teaming up with a defender he holds in high regard.
Liam Delap has named Murillo as his toughest opponentârating him even above Liverpoolâs Virgil van Dijk.
Like Delap, Murillo is catching the eye of Europeâs top clubs, to the point that Forest have reportedly placed a record-breaking price tag on him to deter suitors. Theo Walcott admitted to being daunted by Murilloâs ability, and Delap echoed similar praise during an appearance on Sky Sportsâ Sticker Book show.
When asked to name his toughest opponent, Delap explained: âEveryone usually says Van Dijk, and heâs definitely been one of the best centre-backs in recent years. But I played against Murillo and was really impressed. Heâs young, incredibly fast and strong.â
He ultimately chose Murillo, adding, âIâm going with Murillo. I really like what Iâve seen from him this seasonâheâs young and has really impressed me.â
Forest fans will be pleased with the glowing recognition of their Brazilian defender, but Delap himself may be the one the club should be targeting.
Could Liam Delap be the answer to Nottingham Forestâs striker search?
As Forest prepare for a summer of transfer activityâreportedly tracking Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to bolster their attacking options ahead of potential European competitionâDelap should be firmly on their radar.
He offers something different to Chris Wood. While Wood has been the more prolific scorer, Delap, at just 22, has the potential to growâand already offers a more dynamic threat with the ball. He averages 2.17 progressive carries and 1.41 successful take-ons per 90 minutesâareas where Wood does not compare.
With Ipswichâs relegation setting Delapâs value around ÂŁ30 million, he could be an ideal addition to the Forest frontline, injecting youthful energy and complementing Woodâs finishing prowess.
𫥒Really impressed’: Liam Delap says Nottingham Forest have a player whoâs even tougher than Liverpool Star man
