Liam Delap Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town
Numerous clubs have been wanting to sign Liam Delap but according to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the Ipswich Town forward wants to join Chelsea.
Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton have all been heavily linked with the forward and his €36 million release clause has made him a very lucrative target for all the clubs who are looking to sign a new centre-forward this summer. Earlier this month, Delap had expressed his desire to play at Old Trafford but ever since United have missed out on Champions League football, the striker seems to have changed his decision.
Now, he has made it clear to all the other suitors that he prefers a move to Chelsea. The Blues still have to complete personal terms and then trigger his release clause but this news is a major confidence booster for Enzo Maresca who should now be able to sign a new centre-forward before the Club World Cup begins.
The 22-year-old has had a pretty good season with Ipswich Town but can he become the rightful successor to Nicolas Jackson or will he turn out to be another failure?
Is Liam Delap worth putting money on?
Chelsea have been chasing big names like Victor Osimhen, Benjamin Sesko and Gyokeres but now that they have gotten the green light from Liam Delap, the Blues should move towards signing him.
The former Man City man might be a bargain signing for €36 million but we doubt if he can help Chelsea compete for silverware next season. He has had just one good season in the Premier League and needs to back that up with at least two or three more consistent campaigns in the top flight.
There’s no denying that Liam has all the qualities of a top quality striker but in the end, it’s the numbers that matter. On one hand, while players like Gyokeres and Osimhen have scored 54 and 36 goals respectively this season, Liam Delap has netted only 12 in all competitions.
With better players around him, the 22-year-old will definitely improve on these numbers but Enzo Maresca shouldn’t expect him to score 30-plus goals in his first season with Chelsea. He is very much a work in progress and if the London side do decide to sign him, the manager will have to be patient with him for the next couple of months.
Moving to a big club can always be nerve-racking for a youngster and if he’s immediately burdened with pressure, he could suffer the same fate as Rasmus Hojlund.
However, going after someone like Liam Delap has reinforced Chelsea’s transfer plans once again, as they have decided to focus on young talent who can be at the club for lengthy periods. If Liam Delap can come good, the Blues will have secured that department for at least four to five seasons.
Do all the other teams still have a chance?
Liam Delap has made his interest known but that does not mean the transfer is done and dusted. Chelsea still have a lot of work to do and they will also need to decide whether they want to sign the Ipswich man for €36 million or add more budget and go after one of the big boys.
With Champions League football at stake, the last thing Chelsea will think of is saving money and cutting corners during the upcoming summer window. If the Blues decide to shift their focus, the 22-year-old will be back in the market once again.