Manchester United have joined the race for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap according to the latest reports. Delap, who signed for the Tractor Boys from Manchester City for £15million last summer, has impressed since making the permanent switch to Portman Road.

The 21-year-old scored his ninth Premier League goal of the season on Saturday and has since attracted interest from a number of top flight clubs, with Chelsea and Tottenham among those linked.

And now, The Mirror report that United are keen on signing the England Under 21s international. It's claimed that the United board discussed Delap in the last week and he has now emerged as a top target.

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Two members of United's transfer committee - CEO Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox - know Delap from when they worked together at City. That link could come in handy should United pursue a move for Delap, even if the transfer is not possible until the summer transfer window.

However, a move for Delap could be scuppered because City have a £29.5m buy-back option. Pep Guardiola's side might exercise that, even if it's to sell Delap on again at a profit.

Although speculation has increased over Delap's long-term future at Ipswich, Kieran McKenna admitted at the start of last month that the striker is going nowhere in the January window. "In terms of January, we've got no interest in anything other than Liam being at the football club and he's got no interest in putting focus into anything other than playing for Ipswich Town and trying to get better every week," he explained.

United's interest in Delap comes as they continue their search for a new forward. Mathys Tel has been identified as a potential target with his Bayern Munich future uncertain. The 19-year-old, who has struggled for game time under Vincent Kompany, expressed his desire to leave Bayern earlier in January.

Tottenham had agreed a £50m deal with Bayern to sign Tel, but the forward turned down the chance to move to north London. Arsenal and United remain interested, however, and are keen to sign him before Monday's 11pm deadline. Tel has scored failed to score in 14 appearances for Bayern this season.

While Tel has been subject to interest from United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal, there is still a genuine chance that he could stay at Bayern beyond the end of the transfer window. "Mathys is extremely connected to the club," Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund told Sky Sport Deutschland.

"He loves being here. It's quite possible that he will still be a Bayern Munich player on Tuesday."