Chelsea spent a lot of money in the last summer transfer window, bringing in the likes of Joao Pedro, Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens.
There is no doubt that Pedro has been a success for Chelsea since arriving at the club.
He failed to score in the Blues’ 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday night but was on fire against Napoli last week. In that game, Pedro scored twice to send his side into the Champions League last 16.
Wesley Fofana was solid against Arsenal 💪
Who do you want to see partner the Frenchman if he stays fit?
Wesley Fofana's number of aerial duels in Arsenal vs Chelsea
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
As for Garnacho, Gittens and Liam Delap, they have not been anywhere near as successful as their Chelsea teammate.
Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson shake hands during Chelsea FC v Los Angeles Football Club: Group D - FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Liam Delap has been a downgrade on Nicolas Jackson
Delap, who has replaced Nicolas Jackson, has been especially disappointing. There was initially a lot of excitement when the 22-year-old joined Chelsea.
Delap arrived at Stamford Bridge as a young and promising striker who had just had a bright campaign at Ipswich Town.
Despite Ipswich going on to get relegated, Delap was still able to score 12 goals in 37 Premier League appearances for them. That was more than Jackson managed in the 2024/25 season, though Delap did play more games and minutes.
Still, most Chelsea fans, who had grown tired of Jackson’s ill-discipline and lack of efficiency in front of goal, thought the Englishman would be an upgrade on the club’s first-choice centre-forward.
Unfortunately, Delap has been anything but. In fact, at this stage, you probably have to say that Chelsea have gone backwards by replacing Jackson with him.
Injuries have not helped, but Delap is fit again and has been playing. Yet he is still not convincing in a blue shirt.
Despite his injury woes, Delap has still played more minutes than Jackson this season but has scored fewer goals.
Admit it, you miss Nicolas Jackson 😢
Liam Delap has been a huge disappointment!
Liam Delap's and Nicolas Jackson's stats
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images/Kevin Voigt
The biggest difference between the two No.9s, though, has to be their hold-up play. Jackson retains the ball and brings others into the game much better than Delap.
If the £30m England Under-21 international is going to survive at Chelsea, that is probably the area of his game he has to work on the most.
Chelsea's Liam Delap is congratulated after scoring
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Emanuel Emegha could replace Liam Delap next season
Delap may not actually even get the time to improve, as Chelsea already have a deal in place to sign Emanuel Emegha from Strasbourg.
Emegha is expected to have a first-team spot at Chelsea next season and has already worked under Liam Rosenior.
At this rate, it would not be a surprise to see Emegha replace Delap in the summer. That does not necessarily mean the ex-Ipswich man will be sold, though.
Delap clearly has potential and the right attributes to succeed as a centre-forward in the English game. However, he may need a loan at a mid-table club like Everton or Brighton & Hove Albion and some more one-to-one coaching first.
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