Ipswich have a star out on loan who’s outscoring all of the squad bar Delap

Ipswich Town would really cement themselves as a modern feel-good story if the Tractor Boys can pull off Premier League survival come the close of the ongoing campaign.

But, if the Tractor Boys were to taste the disappointment of an instant return to the Championship, they should be well equipped enough to make a push straight back up to the top-flight.

Whatever reality does slap the Suffolk side in the face, it would appear that Liam Delap will leave the Premier League underdogs for pastures new come the end of the campaign, especially if the latter outcome of falling back into the EFL occurs.

Delap’s future at Ipswich

Reports are even suggesting now that Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea are very keen on landing the ex-Manchester City ace, with Caught Offside further elaborating that the transfer-heavy Blues are in ‘pole position’ to land the now £40m-rated striker.

Ipswich managed to land Delap for £20m less just last summer, which has proven to be a very smart move on the end of the Tractor Boys, with the relegation candidates perhaps deeper in their relegation anxiety if the lethal number 19 wasn’t around.

The above table makes for some damning reading when it comes to Ipswich’s over-reliance on their breakout “monster” – as new signing Alex Palmer labelled him after his opener versus Aston Villa – with Sammie Szmodics the relegation-threatened side’s second top scorer in league action with a meagre four strikes.

Therefore, if the underdogs are to stand any chance at staying up, they will need Delap to continue to be at his unbelievable best.

But, it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom at Portman Road if the double whammy of relegation and Delap leaving happens, with stars such as one loan talent – who is outscoring every Tractor Boys player bar the 22-year-old this season – presumably given more senior chances subsequently.

The Ipswich star who’s shining on loan

He could even be lucky enough to be gifted opportunities if McKenna’s side stay put in the top flight, based on his stunning showings down in League One.

Cameron Humphreys has already been given a fair few chances in the senior ranks by the Northern Irishman, with 17 league appearances

coming his way during the 2022/23 season under the popular boss, but the Colchester-born midfielder’s loan stint to date away at promotion-chasing Wycombe Wanderers is doing him the world of good.

The promising 21-year-old hasn’t looked back since bagging this stylish solo strike on his Chairboys debut, with a further five league goals picked up from 29 third-tier contests boosting his loan side’s chances of automatic promotion glory.

He has, of course, been there and done that with Ipswich in the past when back-to-back promotions were on the menu, with now ex-Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield heralding Humphreys and the rest of his determined teammates as “brilliant” after that goal hit the back of the net against Rotherham United.

Humphreys will just aim to see out the season with Wycombe by continuing to pick up more and more goal contributions, before perhaps being given more opportunities back in Suffolk, with the Premier League side arguably light on options centrally considering both Kalvin Phillips and Jens Cajuste are only in the building on loan.

Moreover, there is only really Conor Chaplin and Omari Hutchinson that can play in the number ten spot, with Humphreys – who new Chairboys boss Mike Dodds lauded as a “clever footballer” – keen to make a lasting impact back at his parent employers if everything goes to plan.