Serie A giants join Hull City in transfer race for Man City starlet Liam Delap

Liam Delap remains a firm target for Hull City this summer as the club look to bring back the young striker after the 21-year-old made such an impression last term.

That task, however, looks to have become even more challenging with the news which has emerged from Italy which suggest Serie A duo Bologna and Fiorentina have both entered the race to sign him.

Reports in Europe suggest the duo were impressed with Delap's form at City last season which saw him bag eight goals in 31 appearances, in a campaign which saw him miss three months early in the New Year with a knee injury.

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That knee injury not only hampered his season but also disrupted City's play-off charge with him only returning shortly before the end of the campaign.

City remain determined to bring him back on loan this summer, but are aware that there is growing interest from elsewhere in the frontman, and according to Sky Sport Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, both Fiorentina and Bologna are eyeing a move for Delap and the chance to play in Italy's top division along with the prospect of European football.

Bologna have qualified for the Champions League after finishing fifth in Serie A, while Viola will again play in the Conference League and look to go one better and win the competition after suffering successive final defeats to West Ham and Olympiacos, and that temptations will no doubt be strong for Delap, should an offer be forthcoming.

Owner Acun Ilicali reiterated those desires when he introduced new manager Tim Walter to the media earlier this month, saying that Delap would be City's first-choice frontman, should the Premier League champions sanction his exit.

"No, but we are on it because at the moment we have to wait for some reasons," Ilicali told the 1904 Club podcast when asked if a bid had been lodged. "We have to just wait at the moment and just talk to Manchester City about it. I mean, if we will have any chance to get Liam Delap, he will be our number one choice."