Nottingham Forest have re-entered the transfer market for Liam Delap as they search for a new striker before the window closes. The England Under-21 international looks likely to leave Stamford Bridge, where Xabi Alonso has an ample number of forwards at his disposal.
Forest’s admiration for the 23-year-old is hardly a new development, and the East Midlands outfit are well aware any renewed overture will not go unchallenged. Delap turned down offers from Manchester United, Newcastle United, Everton, and Forest themselves in the summer of 2025, opting to accept Chelsea’s £30m offer and a contract until June 2031. The game-changer in that drawn-out courtship was Champions League football.
But the twelve months since have been unremittingly cruel to the centre-forward. Delap had a torrid maiden campaign in west London, managing just two goals and three assists in 41 appearances – a goal return that sits uncomfortably alongside the 12 goals registered in 37 outings for Ipswich Town the previous season. After leaving the relegated Tractor Boys, he has only scored one goal in 28 Premier League games for the Blues.
Chelsea’s attacking department has since become inordinately congested, making his departure increasingly likely. Joao Pedro is the undisputed first choice for the No.9 berth, but the internal competition has been upped by the arrival of Emmanuel Emegha from sister club Strasbourg. Nicolas Jackson also has an uncertain future.
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Forest face a slightly more complex proposition than just maintaining a squad through this window, having changed manager and lost their most influential performer. Elliot Anderson joined Manchester City in a club-record £116 million deal, with Vitor Pereira leaving the hotseat to make way for the arrival of Glasner.
That windfall has given Evangelos Marinakis considerable leeway in the marketplace. It is understood that the Greek owner is ready to fund two or three more signings, with Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande set to become the club’s most expensive defensive signing in a £34.1m deal. Austria midfielder Xaver Schlager, who was coached by Glasner at Wolfsburg, has already joined on a free transfer.
Feyenoord full-back Givairo Read is set to cost around £25 million, with a five-year contract mooted as negotiations reach an advanced stage. Beto from Everton has also been suggested as an attacking option, but Delap’s precociousness and Premier League pedigree arguably make him the more tempting prospect for Glasner’s next campaign.