David Moyes eyes a £30m move for the former Ipswich standout, but a dismal Chelsea stint raises questions about whether the physical striker can truly upgrade Everton’s attack.
Everton and the transfer market, who would be a blue?
The latest link, is one that has been thrown about a few times in the past: Chelsea’s Liam Delap, for a reported £30m. £30m for a 23-year-old, ‘Premier League proven striker’, seems like good business.
Let us first look at the pros in this deal. Delap was very well thought of at Manchester City. Yes, at Manchester City, and Pep Guardiola was actually very high on him at one point.
He did only manage two Premier League games, however, with 0 goals. He was sold to newly promoted Ipswich for £20m after a few stop-start loan deals in the meantime.
I was impressed with Liam Delap of Ipswich, I can’t lie. He was a very old-school striker who led the line very well in (albeit) a poor Ipswich side. He managed to bag 12 goals in the Premier League, as a return for a newly promoted side's striker was not bad at all.7
Rumours as far back as the end of 24/25 season was that Delap would come to the Blues, especially after being seen signing a house outside Goodison Park on Ipswich’s return to Goodison Park. Weird bunch, aren’t we?!
He didn’t sign. He signed for Chelsea for a release clause triggering £30M. This is where the pros end. He really struggled in this Chelsea team, and this is not to say he didn’t get a chance, he did.
He really struggled being the focal point in a big team and seemed to lack the killer instinct to succeed at a top club.
Delap managed one goal in 28 games, with the wingers that Chelsea have, it is shocking. His counterpart, Joao Pedro, who came from Brighton, looked right at home, which made Delap look even more inept.
Going back to the pros of signing Delap. He is young and can still learn. He has played in the Premier League already, which is half the battle.
The biggest pro for one David Moyes, is that he is an old school centre forward, which Moyes will be salivating over. He is the most David Moyes striker I have come across in recent years.
In my opinion, I think Everton should be looking further afield than Liam Delap. Seems very lazy recruiting for me. In Delap’s defence, I think he has been advised badly by the people around him.
Off the back of a decent season with Ipswich (who were relegated), he should have been looking for the stepping-stone club to then go to a Chelsea after scoring a bagful for someone like…Everton.
Sorry to disappoint us Blues, but it is true. I think now he has had a torrid time at Chelsea, the confidence to pick himself back up could be something we cannot wait for.
In my opinion, Liam Delap is not much better, if at all, than the two strikers we already have in Beto and Thierno Barry. Personally, I would give this one a miss.