Maresca wants another strikerMaresca wants another striker
Maresca wants another striker | AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea are on the lookout for a striker this summer, and they may be more likely to pursue one particular frontman.
Chelsea have been tipped to make a move for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap due to a key factor. The Blues will be looking for a striker this summer as they bid to add competition for Nicolas Jackson.
With Christopher Nkunku likely to be sold, Chelsea need something more in attack, although Jackson clearly has a future at the club on the back of a 12-goal and five-assist season. The 23-year-old has not managed consistency throughout the whole season, but he is clearly a threat at Premier League level, and he is still developing.
Another player who is still developing is Ipswich striker Delap, who scored 12 times for an Ipswich Town side that has been relegated without much of a fight this season. Still only 22 years of age, Delap is attracting plenty of attention this season, and BBC Sport journalist Nizaar Kinsella believes Chelsea are most likely to chase the frontman as they look to snap up another frontman this summer.
He wrote: “If I were to hazard a guess then I would say Ipswich striker Liam Delap is the most likely, given the connection key recruiter Joe Shields has to the player. His £30m release clause will also be seen as an opportunity by those at Stamford Bridge. In saying that, Chelsea are quite guarded on which player is most likely to join.
“One reason is that in Delap's case, for example, Manchester United are in the race. Another reason is Arsenal want a big name striker, with both clubs also looking at Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres. Even Victor Osimhen from Napoli (on loan at Galatasaray) isn't being ruled out at this stage, but Chelsea found his wage demands prohibitive when negotiating for him last summer. I think Chelsea will be aggressive in signing a striker and end up with a capable option to complement Nicolas Jackson.” The context to the claim about Shields is that the Chelsea recruitment chief previously spent time at Manchester City during Delap’s time there.
What has been said about Delap’s future
Speaking in April, Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna said: “As I've said before, I think there's certainly a possibility that he's an Ipswich player next year. I don't think anything's decided in anyone's mind. But can Liam play for the biggest clubs in the country, the biggest clubs in the world? He certainly can. I fully believe that.
"As I've said before, I think there's certainly a possibility that he's an Ipswich player next year. I don't think anything's decided in anyone's mind. But can Liam play for the biggest clubs in the country, the biggest clubs in the world? He certainly can. I fully believe that.”
Delap himself was asked about transfer links back in February. "I'm so happy here, I'm enjoying it so much here. I just look forward to playing football. I take every game as it comes and focus on the next," Delap told the East Anglian Daily Times.
"It [the media speculation] is something that I try and stay away from. People around me have told me to stay away from it, it’s something that I’m very good at in focusing on what I want to do. That’s playing football here. I'm really enjoying my time here and I enjoy playing every week. That’s the most important thing. We know, as players and people, that there is noise. If we have a bad game and people are slating us for not performing or getting the right results, we stay focused on ourselves and what we have to achieve."
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