Chelsea’s most recent summer transfer window is broadly seen as a failure by supporters, and one player they signed could be set to leave the club already.
The Blues did add Joao Pedro and Estevao Willian to their ranks, however around that they didn’t really strengthen the starting side.
It would be hard to argue that Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens have raised the levels on the wing, while Liam Delap has offered very little when given an opportunity up front.
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Liam Delap could leave Chelsea after just one season
Delap has been told he needs to be stronger by Wayne Rooney, and the competition in the striker position for years to come raises some questions about his future.
Journalist Simon Johnson took to Reddit to answer a question about this very topic, and he said Delap’s future is one to watch when the transfer window opens again.
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He said: “I think everyone hoped for more from Delap this season, including the player himself. People forget this transfer was lauded in many circles last summer and Chelsea beat off a lot of competition to get him. I just think the hamstring injury in late August was key to what’s happened.
“It has been a bit of a perfect storm, He has never had the run of games to get sharp, build up a rhythm to get back to his best. And partly as a consequence, his form when he has got on hasn’t been great so that run of games won’t happen.
“I thought his extra physicality would bring something the team needed and there has been the odd flash, like when he came on at Man City. But it is a very small sample size and Joao Pedro has established himself as first choice. Emegha will add to the competition next season so Delap’s situation is one to watch this summer.”
Delap has featured in 31 games so far this season, however only in the starting XI on 13 occasions, largely down to the exceptional form of Pedro.
It’s time to bin the five-year plan, Todd 😡
Joe Cole is absolutely right.
Chelsea chiefs had doubts about Delap back in December
A hamstring injury in his second Premier League start against Fulham stunted his early progress, but at the end of the day he has just three goals for the club since he joined before the Club World Cup.
In fact, Chelsea chiefs had concerns about Delap back in December, and things have not turned around since then.
He has had to wait for his starts to come mostly in the FA Cup, and will likely get another go against Port Vale in the quarter-finals.
Liam Rosenior has described Delap as ‘fantastic’ (The Mirror), but will also be aware that so far he has given him very little when handed the opportunity.
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