It is difficult to find a Chelsea player who is genuinely playing to their full ability at the moment, and Liam Delap is certainly one struggling to find his best form in a Blues shirt.
Much has been made of Chelsea’s lack of experience. It means these young stars are being forced to fend for themselves, unable to lean on the expertise of an older head. Delap must wish he had a Blues mentor.
Liam Delap finally got his chance to start against Manchester United ✅
How would you rate his performance?
Chelsea v Manchester United - Premier League
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Signed for £30m from Ipswich Town last summer, Delap has managed just one Premier League goal for Chelsea since joining. While the Englishman hasn’t had much of a run in the side, he started on Saturday.
But Delap was guilty of another poor display, and it isn’t his first this season. There was hope that the appointment of Liam Rosenior, his old Hull manager, could help him. But that hasn’t played out just yet.
Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker, and Micah Richards on Liam Delap
Having watched Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Man United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night, The Rest Is Football’s Gary Lineker, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer all had their say on Delap and his Chelsea stint.
Shearer believes Delap is not good enough for Chelsea at the moment, but is in agreement with Richards and Lineker that he needs time. Whether the 23-year-old is going to get time, is a very different question.
Liam Delap of Chelsea
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Shearer began: “There’s definite talent in there, but not for Chelsea just yet,” before Lineker replied: “He’s not had a good run of games has he, with injuries as well. We’ll reserve our judgement there for a while.”
Micah Richards added: “With Delap, he’s trying to find his feet a little bit, it’s fair to say. But with the expectation of the fans at Chelsea, he needs a little bit of time, that’s for sure,” he summarised on Delap.
Should Chelsea cash in on Liam Delap in the summer?
There is no doubting that if Delap is given a run of games and starts week in, week out, he will score goals. He did so in an Ipswich side that was relegated, but he simply has not been given that at Chelsea.
His lack of game time is understandable, though. Joao Pedro has arguably been Chelsea’s best player under the Rosenior era, and Delap was only given a chance on Saturday due to Pedro’s groin injury.
You are Liam Rosenior. Do you sell Liam Delap this summer?
Premier League clubs are keeping tabs on the striker…
Five Premier League clubs are looking at Delap, including Everton and Man United. The summer is likely to be an intriguing one for the English striker, and there is certainly a reality in which he leaves the club.
But it would be unfair to the striker, given he has not been given a chance. Perhaps, he simply needs a platform where he can start games and be the first-choice striker. At Chelsea, that simply isn’t happening.
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