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Everton ‘behind the black ball’ in bid to sign Liam Delap

Ipswich star willing to talk to David Moyes, who is also interested in Liverpool winger Ben Doak, as club prepare for summer of change after leaving Goodison Park
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Liam Delap of Ipswich Town at a Premier League match.
Delap has a £30million release clause in his contract
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Paul Joyce, Northern Football Correspondent
Friday May 23 2025, 10.30pm, The Times
Everton have made their pitch to Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap and also hold an interest in signing Liverpool winger Ben Doak.

David Moyes conceded that the club remain “behind the black ball” in relation to recruiting Delap, who has a £30million release clause in his contract after Ipswich’s demotion to the Championship. However, the Everton manager is hoping that the chance to play regularly for his side will entice the 22-year-old.

Delap has been given permission to speak to a number of clubs before a summer move, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United believed to be among his suitors.

Everton v Ipswich Town, Premier League, Football, Goodison Park, Liverpool, UK - 03 May 2025
Delap, playing in the 2-2 draw against Everton this month, has scored 12 goals for Ipswich this season
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“We have had a chance to speak to him,” Moyes said. “He’s spoken to three or four clubs and he’s given us the opportunity to pitch our case. We’re probably a little bit behind the black ball, but you never know what happens.”

Delap, who has been named in the England Under-21 squad, has scored 12 goals in 36 appearances for Ipswich and is Moyes’ preferred choice before a summer of rebuilding at Everton.

Everton have also discussed a move for Doak, although Liverpool are believed to be seeking about £25million to £30million for the 19-year-old Scotland attacker, who was the subject of a failed bid from Crystal Palace in January.

Middlesbrough FC v West Bromwich Albion FC - Sky Bet Championship
Doak impressed during his loan spell at Middlesbrough, with three goals and seven assists
TREVOR WILKINSON/MI NEWS/NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES
Doak made 24 appearances on loan for Middlesbrough in the Championship this season before returning to Anfield due to injury. The pacey attacker was signed from Celtic for £600,000 in March 2022 and has made ten appearances for Liverpool.

Regular opportunities at Liverpool would appear limited, but while Everton’s owner, The Friedkin Group, will make a sizeable budget available, Moyes will have to carefully allocate resources to bolster his squad.

Abdoulaye Doucouré, Ashley Young, Asmir Begovic and João Virgínia have all been confirmed as leaving, while Everton had five players on loan this season. They are Jack Harrison, Armando Broja, Orel Mangala, Jesper Lindstrom and Carlos Alcaraz.

Everton v Southampton, Premier League, Football, Goodison Park, Liverpool, UK - 18 May 2025
Moyes with Coleman, who came off early against Southampton but is staying at the club next season
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In addition, decisions have to be reached on the futures of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Michael Keane and Idrissa Gueye, who are also out of contract this summer. Seamus Coleman is staying, although it remains to be seen in what capacity after he suffered another injury in last weekend’s victory over Southampton. He will be absent for Sunday’s trip to Newcastle United.

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Everton are bringing in Nicky Hammond, who worked as a consultant for Leeds United, to help with the recruitment process and Chris Howarth, who owns Insight Sport, has been earmarked for the role of head of strategy.

The club have also announced that academy director Gareth Prosser is leaving and the amount of work required has left Moyes worried.

“Yeah, yeah I am,” he said. “I don’t think it’s something you’d have ideally as any manager — such a big changeover. I knew we had this situation when I came into the job. There is a chance for big change but it’s easier said than done. You want to build layer after layer.

“I am surprised at how well the players have done, so well, which has made the decisions a bit easier because if we don’t get anybody we are happy with what we’ve got. We have five loan players. Most clubs have one or, at worst, two. We have five. That alone gives you an idea. We don’t hold the value of those players.”

Meanwhile, Jarrad Branthwaite is likely to miss the Under-21 European Championships with England due to a hamstring injury that will sideline him for up to five weeks.