Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Chelsea are conducting a fire sale as they look set to pass the £350m mark with the signing of Pep Chavarria. Now, Chelsea need to sell a whole host of players to balance the books.
Without European football and the cash injection that comes with that, Chelsea need to sell players if they are to rake back some of the money already spent. Or, if they are to fund any potential new additions.
Asmir Begovic's Chelsea XI for Fulham away
Asmir Begovic's Chelsea XI for Fulham away
This summer, Chelsea have made four major sales and are closing in on a fifth. Around £120m has been received in transfer fees, while Trevoh Chalobah’s move to Como is set to take that figure towards £150m.
But that still leaves Chelsea a whole £200m down. Alejandro Garnacho’s loan may turn permanent, but the £40m+ will only be received next summer. But an influx of cash could now come from Man United.
Chelsea have already received a £48m fee from Man United
Chelsea’s coffers have already been somewhat replenished by Michael Carrick’s side, to the initial tune of £48m. The Blues agreed to sell Andrey Santos to Man United for an upfront payment of £48m last month.
Manchester United Unveil New Signing Andrey Santos
Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images
Add-ons will take that to £50m, should Santos meet those. Given the small amount of cash in add-ons compared to the initial fee, those are likely to be easily met. Now, Man United could send a further £40m.
Ben Jacobs told The United Stand that Chelsea striker Liam Delap remains an option for Man United this summer. Chelsea want £40m for Delap, meaning Man United may pay £90m in total to Chelsea.
“Liam Delap is a really interesting one. It is more Leeds, Newcastle, Everton at the moment. But don’t forget, Man United were really close to signing Delap along with Everton before he went to Chelsea.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Chelsea FC: Sydney Super Cup
Photo by Ayush Kumar/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
“The only thing now is that if Man United do try to add a profile, I sense it will be a bit older than Delap. So they [Man United] do have some names there,” Jacobs continued, speaking on Thursday afternoon.
Delap would surely jump at the chance to join Man United
Chelsea have signed Danny Welbeck, and that has pushed Delap further down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Juventus on Wednesday told us just what Xabi Alonso thinks.
Liam Delap price tag at Chelsea
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Indeed, Chelsea started with Welbeck and Joao Pedro, while Nicolas Jackson was brought on before Delap. Emmanuel Emegha remains a new signing and will surely get a chance over Delap next season.
It might well be that Delap is now the fifth choice at Stamford Bridge up top, and Man United could look to take advantage of that in the coming weeks. For now, as Jacobs said, he is only an option so far.