---
title: "Ball: Loan move could possibly help Manchester City’s Liam Delap"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/ball-loan-move-could-help-liam-delap/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Nick Pratt"
section: "Manchester City Football Club"
published: "2021-08-04T05:50:42Z"
modified: "2021-08-04T05:50:42Z"
---

# Ball: Loan move could possibly help Manchester City’s Liam Delap

**Former Manchester City defender Michael Ball feels that a loan move for striker Liam Delap could possibly help him.**

Liam, the son of Rory Delap, has been linked with one of his father’s old clubs in Stoke City according to the [Manchester Evening News](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liam-delap-loan-manchester-city-21100426?_ga=2.73323675.981608373.1627647286-1741959185.1627659538). Alongside the Potters, a number of other clubs, including West Bromwich Albion, Millwall and according to [Lancs Live](https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-city-transfer-news-preston-21090568), Preston North End, have been linked with a summer move for the forward.

Delap was in impressive form last season in the Premier League 2, scoring [24 goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/liam-delap/leistungsdaten/spieler/610849/plus/0?saison=2020) in just 20 games and former Cityzen Michael Ball believes a loan move away from the Etihad Stadium could possibly benefit the young striker, exclusively telling the Transfer Tavern: *“When I’ve seen him play for the first-team he’s done well, he’s a different type of striker than City have had, he’s sort of stuck between a big guy going forward but he likes running in behind as well.*

*“So, I feel a loan could possibly help him again for one more year, but I wouldn’t go against if he actually wants to push a move permanently to get his career on track now, you’re only young for so many years and you want to start making a name for yourself, you want to get a shirt, name on your back and that’s your main position.”*

Delap made his [senior debut](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54190674) for Manchester City last season against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup, marking his City bow with a goal.

After Sergio Aguero left the Etihad Stadium this summer, City have been linked with a move for Tottenham striker Harry Kane and according to journalist [Fabrizio Romano](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1418526418141696000), City have already had a bid of £100m turned down for the England international.

If Kane does become a Manchester City player, though, it could see Delap’s game time limited in the first team and so a loan move could be beneficial to his development this season.