Liam Delap finds himself at a career crossroads, facing a Newcastle side that reportedly wants to sign him at a time when his Chelsea future is being debated following a difficult run of form.
Chelsea had high hopes for Liam Delap after witnessing his run of form during his time at Ipswich Town.
However, his time at Chelsea has been a real struggle. Joao Pedro has cemented his place as the club’s primary number nine, which has contributed to Liam Delap’s two goals all season.
Wayne Rooney and other pundits continue to put their faith in Delap, it’s just down to the striker to start finding the back of the net in his limited minutes.
As is natural when a player struggles, potential exit opportunities arise, and that seems to be the case with the Chelsea striker.
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Micah Richards gives Liam Rosenior his seal of approval as Chelsea boss
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Chelsea yet to make a decision on Liam Delap
According to a report from the Daily Mail, Liam Delap is another name to keep an eye on.
However, it is stated that there is no indication at present that Chelsea would be looking to sell this summer.
Newcastle wanted to sign Delap last year before he chose the Blues, and it’s believed that the Magpies are exploring other options in what is a difficult position to recruit.
Emmanuel Emegha and Nicolas Jackson returning in the summer will make things very interesting.
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Robert Sanchez conceding stats compared to Filip Jorgensen at Chelsea
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What Liam Delap needs to do moving forward
While Liam Rosenior has publicly lauded Delap’s selfless defensive contributions and his ability to defend from the front, a return of just one Premier League goal this season is unsustainable for a Chelsea number nine.
Delap’s primary challenge is finding a consistent scoring rhythm that has been severely interrupted by hamstring and shoulder injuries. He needs to replicate the creative spark he showed during his three-assist masterclass against Hull, proving he can be a reliable alternative to the in-form Joao Pedro.
With Newcastle circling and Emanuel Emegha arriving as further competition, Delap must maximise his substitute appearances and convert his high expected goals (xG) into results.
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