Chelsea are also preparing to make a final decision on Jadon Sancho with United desperate to get the forward off the books
A lack of Champions League football for next season helped sway Liam Delap's decision to choose Chelsea over Manchester United, with a £30m move to Stamford Bridge nearing its completion.
The i Paper understands that Delap, who is wanted by Chelsea, United, Newcastle and Everton, among others, favours a move to west London for a variety of reasons - the biggest draw being Champions League football.
A lack of competition in the central striker role - Chelsea's only senior frontline central option is the divisive Nicolas Jackson - also edged the Blues to the front of the queue. Newcastle can also offer elite European action, but sources say that dislodging Alexander Isak up top was seen as a difficult task.
Chelsea hope to get the deal completed quickly so they can concentrate on strengthening other areas of the squad.
Senior United figures had been confident that Delap would overlook the woeful underperformance at Old Trafford this season, with a central striker to provide support or even replace Rasmus Hojlund one of their top priorities.
Delap's mind, however, is understood to have been made up. His £30m clause that becomes active as a result of Ipswich's relegation will be met by Chelsea in the coming days and personal terms can then be finalised.
One other decision Chelsea hope to come to soon is whether to make Jadon Sancho's stay a permanent one.
As The i Paper reported in March, Chelsea have been considering ripping up the agreement to sign Sancho for £25m at the end of his loan after the Manchester United forward struggled to hit top form for Enzo Maresca's side.
They would have to pay £5m in compensation to United to do that. That figure had not been off-putting, but one source close to the player has claimed Chelsea may reconsider, with Maresca won over by some recent performances - not least in Wednesday's Europa Conference League final victory over Real Betis.
While Sancho would still have much convincing to do, a fee of £25m for a player of his talent is seen as a risk worth taking by the club, the source added.
United need the money to give Ruben Amorim the funds he requires to complete a vital squad overhaul, whether that is from Chelsea or other clubs. Sancho had been linked with a move to Bayer Leverkusen, but Erik ten Hag's appointment as Xabi Alonso's successor may put pay to that move happening given their fractured relationship.
Delap's snub is a big blow to United, who currently have limited funds with which they can work. They must now accelerate plans to sell several high-profile names to begin their own spending.
Talks between United executives and Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna are ongoing this week over Alejandro Garnacho's possible £50m move to Italy, while Marcus Rashford's representatives are trying to find him a new club, with Barcelona the forward's preference.
United's other striker targets include Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, who are also top targets for Arsenal. Either will also take some convincing that moving to a club with no European football to offer is the way forward.
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