Pep has only ever signed a former player twice in his career. He’s been keeping an eye on the lad. Things could move quickly here

When the news first broke that Manchester City were planning a shocking move to re-sign one of their former youngsters, many football fans did not know what to think because the story came out at a time when the club was going through one of the hardest periods of the Pep Guardiola era. A time when confidence was low, results were painful, criticism was heavy, and the whole team seemed to be playing under a dark cloud. So when the rumour spread that City were keeping close watch on Liam Delap, a player Guardiola himself allowed to leave the club just a few months earlier, it immediately created tension, curiosity, confusion, and excitement all at once. It became one of those football stories that make people sit up like someone hearing their name in a public place.

Because normally, when a club lets a young player go, especially a striker, fans assume it is the end of the road between both sides. They assume the player will continue his journey elsewhere while the club moves on with more experienced talent. But this case was different because Manchester City inserted a buy-back clause in the deal that took Delap to Ipswich Town, and now that clause is beginning to call their name like a voice echoing in a quiet room.

This whole situation did not just happen suddenly. It came after Manchester City experienced something rare: five straight defeats in all competitions, the worst run of form since Guardiola arrived at the Etihad in 2016. That terrible run included a painful 4-0 humiliation at home against Tottenham Hotspur, a match where City looked lost, weak, and confused. James Maddison scored twice before halftime to silence the Etihad, Pedro Porro added another goal almost immediately after the second half started, and Brennan Johnson finished the humiliation in stoppage time. The stadium was silent, the players were frustrated, and the fans were shocked. A team that recently completed a treble looked like they were drowning in problems.

So when Delap’s name returned into the football conversation, the timing made the story even bigger. It came at a moment when Manchester City were desperate for solutions, especially in the striker position because Erling Haaland was the only senior centre-forward remaining after Julian Alvarez left for Atletico Madrid in the summer. Guardiola did not replace Alvarez because he believed the squad still had enough firepower, but after the five defeats and the Tottenham embarrassment, fans started asking if that decision was a mistake.

Meanwhile, Liam Delap, the 21-year-old striker City allowed to join Ipswich Town permanently for around £20 million, was shining in the Premier League. Six goals already, strong performances, aggressive runs, powerful finishing, and the kind of hunger that makes managers excited. Ipswich fans loved him, the club trusted him, and the Premier League started paying attention to him. He was no longer just “Rory Delap’s son” or “the City academy kid with potential.” He was becoming something real.

So when Football Insider reported that City were monitoring him closely, looking at him with new eyes, and preparing to consider using the buy-back clause, the football world reacted immediately. Some people said City were smart for adding the clause. Some said they made a mistake selling him in the first place. Some said Delap needed more time. Some said City lacked attacking depth. Some even said Guardiola might be regretting the decision. The whole internet entered full discussion mode.

But the real story behind all this drama is much deeper than headlines. It begins years ago when Liam Delap first arrived at Manchester City’s academy in 2019 from Derby County. From the beginning, many coaches saw his potential. He was fast, strong, hungry, and he had what many young strikers lack: confidence in front of goal. He played with a kind of energy that showed he wanted to break through the first team one day, not just become another academy name that disappears quietly. And when he got his first chance in the senior team, he showed glimpses of what he could become.

His first senior goal for City came in the EFL Cup, a powerful strike that reminded people of how his father used to dominate physically in midfield for Stoke. Pep Guardiola praised him for his intensity and attitude. But after that, Delap’s path became complicated. Manchester City’s first team is not an easy place for any young striker to break into because competition is like climbing a mountain with no rope. First it was Sergio Aguero. Then Gabriel Jesus. Then Erling Haaland. Then Julian Alvarez. How do you break into that? How do you force your way into a team where almost every position is controlled by a world-class player?

So Delap went on loan to get experience. First Stoke City, then Preston North End, then Hull City. Each loan spell taught him something new about football, about pressure, about responsibility, about physical battles, about mental strength. But still, when he returned to Manchester City, the door to the first team was still closed. Not because he was bad, but because the competition was too high.

So when Ipswich Town, who had just been promoted to the Premier League, came with a strong offer and promised Delap real playing time, City agreed to let him go—but they inserted two things: a buy-back clause and a sell-on clause. These are signs of a club that does not want to permanently close the door on a young talent. And now, a few months later, that buy-back clause is suddenly becoming relevant.

The reason is simple: Delap is playing well, City are struggling, Haaland is alone upfront, and Guardiola needs more firepower. Even though City dominate possession in most matches, this season the goals have become harder to score because teams are no longer afraid. They press more. They attack more. They run at City’s defence with confidence. And since the defence is also struggling, the attack needs to be more efficient. Pep Guardiola knows this. His staff knows it. The fans know it. Every pundit knows it

First, he fits the profile of a Guardiola striker—strong pressing, energy, physicality, intelligence, and ability to run behind defenders. Second, he already understands City’s style because he grew up in their system. Third, he is young and still developing, which gives Guardiola space to shape him. Fourth, his buy-back price is cheaper than going to the market for an expensive striker. Fifth, he is already scoring in the Premier League, which means he will not be afraid or overwhelmed. Sixth, City need a striker who can help when Haaland is injured, tired, or out of form.

But this story also carries emotional weight because this is a player Pep Guardiola allowed to leave. The same manager who told the world he believed in Delap but later decided the timing was not right. Now, things have changed. Now, the timing might be perfect. And football sometimes loves these full-circle moments where a player leaves to grow and returns when the club suddenly realises they actually need him.

Some fans think City should immediately bring him back. They believe Delap is ready. They believe Pep should not waste time. Some others believe Delap should stay at Ipswich for another season to develop more, to play regularly, to avoid being stuck on City’s bench. Both arguments make sense because this decision will impact not only Manchester City’s season but Delap’s future.

The report also mentioned that City will “weigh up the merits” of activating the clause. This means the club is not rushing. They are observing, thinking, analysing, and calculating. Because bringing a player back is not just about ability—it is about timing, personality, team balance, and future plans. Guardiola is a manager who believes in systems, not just individuals. So if Delap returns, he must fit perfectly.

Meanwhile, Ipswich Town will not want to lose him so soon. He is becoming a star for them. Their fans love him. Their manager trusts him. And losing him in the middle of a season could be a big blow. But that is the power of a buy-back clause. If City activate it, Ipswich cannot stop it.

Some pundits have already started giving their opinions. Some say Delap is becoming a classic case of a young player who needed to leave a big club to discover his true potential. Others say City knew what they were doing from the beginning, and this was always part of the long plan. Football analysts are studying his heat maps, shot numbers, involvement in attacking plays, and progressive runs. Everything is pointing to a player who is growing fast.

This is a story about timing, opportunity, regret, second chances, and destiny. A story about a young man who left his boyhood club to become something more and now may return to finish what he started. A story about Pep Guardiola, a manager known for being strict with standards but flexible with ideas, reconsidering a player he once let go.

It is also a story about Manchester City needing help. A team that looked unbeatable suddenly looks vulnerable. A team that scored goals like water from a tap is suddenly struggling to convert chances. A team that controlled the Premier League is suddenly chasing Liverpool from behind.

Right now, City are eight points behind Liverpool after Arne Slot’s side beat Southampton 3-2. And that gap, even though the season is long, feels heavy because City are not playing like champions. They are not controlling matches the way they used to. They are not defending strongly. They are not scoring enough. Something is missing.

Maybe that “something” is confidence. Maybe it is motivation. Maybe it is structure. Maybe it is hunger. Or maybe it is simply a missing piece in attack—a piece that could create more pressure, more movement, more goals, more options. Maybe that piece is Liam Delap.

When people talk about Delap, they remember his strength, his speed, his pressing, his finishing, and his energy. But they also remember something else—his passion. The way he celebrates goals. The way he throws himself into challenges. The way he plays with fire in his chest. That fire is what City sometimes lack when things get difficult.

The Champions League is also part of the conversation. City are preparing to face Feyenoord at the Etihad. They are currently 10th in the new-format group stage table. Not good enough for a team that dreams of winning another Champions League title. Guardiola needs more options, more unpredictability, more weapons.

Delap may not be a world-class striker yet, but he is becoming dangerous. He is becoming confident. He is becoming fearless. And sometimes that is exactly what a struggling giant needs.

Football loves drama. And his story is full of it. A player leaves a giant club. The club enters a crisis. The player starts shining elsewhere. The club remembers him. A buy-back clause exists. The possibility of a return becomes real. Fans argue. Social media reacts. Reporters investigate. Managers think deeply.