Coventry City battle Everton for Chelsea striker Liam Delap
Liam Delap celebrating his goal against Fulham in January 2026 (photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Coventry City are set to battle fellow Premier League side Everton for the signing of Chelsea striker Liam Delap.
As reported by Football Insider, the Sky Blues have joined a race which is led by Everton, but other clubs are also interested in the Englishman.
According to The i Paper, Leeds and Nottingham Forest have also held interest in the 23-year-old, but Everton seem to be the most likely destination as it stands.
Why is Liam Delap a wanted man?
Usually, a player becomes wanted based on their current or recent form, but that would not be the case with Delap.
The former Manchester City man has struggled since signing for Chelsea in June 2025, scoring once in 28 Premier League appearances last season.
Delap arrived at Stamford Bridge last year with a reported £30m price tag, and some real potential, following his time at Ipswich Town.
Liam Delap celebrating a goal for Ipswich Town against Brentford in October 2024 (photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Liam Delap celebrating a goal for Ipswich Town against Brentford in October 2024 (photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
During his one-year spell at The Tractor Boys, who had just been promoted to the Premier League, he scored 12 goals in 37 appearances, an impressive first full season in the top flight.
For Ipswich, Delap's goals were not enough to keep them in the league, and with the club returning to the Championship, Delap would not hang around, signing for Chelsea soon after.
So for teams like Coventry, they would be hoping for Delap to recreate his Ipswich magic, and not his Chelsea failures.
Would Liam Delap become Coventry's number one striker?
Frank Lampard currently has a few options to lead his newly-promoted front line.
Haji Wright topped the Sky Blues' scoring charts last season, and would be likely to do so again. However, the American has been linked with a move to Championside side West Ham, although with the Hammers close to agreeing a deal for Irish striker Troy Parrott, the Wright talks may have already disappeared.
Lampard's other obvious option would be Ellis Simms. The 25-year-old scored 13 goals for Coventry last season, and has started up front in a number of Coventry's pre-season friendlies.
Coventry's transfer window plans
It is expected that Coventry will complete the signing of another striker before the window shuts on September 1st, and with Chelsea likely to move him on, Liam Delap could be the answer.