Manchester City could scupper Chelsea's attempts to sign a striker next year should the Blues settle on one of the top-scoring English centre-forwards in the Premier League this season.
Cole Palmer is the country's leading goalscorer with seven, the same as teammate Nicolas Jackson, but three homegrown number nines are one shy of that total. England internationals, past and present, Danny Welbeck and Ollie Watkins are two, but the other is reputedly attracting attention from teams towards the top of the league.
Chelsea are said to be among them. Manchester United reportedly are, too, despite barely being above his Ipswich Town team in the table after their 1-1 draw at Portman Road last time out.
Liam Delap did not score during that game, with former Blues winger Omari Hutchinson equalising for Kieran McKenna's side. However, according to The Athletic , the striker already has several admirers.
The England under-21 international is reportedly a new addition to the club's list of at least five centre-forwards they are monitoring, which the outlet claims could be as high as ten. Blues head coach Enzo Maresca wanted the club to sign another striker during the final week of the summer transfer window, saying, "If we have [the] chance to bring a No 9 that can help us and make the difference, we are going to try."
He and Chelsea's co-director of recruitment and talent, Joe Shields, notably previously worked with the player at Manchester City. However, despite Delap departing for up to £20million ahead of this season starting, City could still exercise a degree of control over the player's future.
The report acknowledges that it is common practice for the club to utilise buy-back clauses and the ability to have matching rights in deals for players to depart. TBR Football reported last week that the fee is more than £30million.
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