Chelsea are closing in on a move for Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, beating a host of Premier League rivals in the process.
Earlier this week, TBR Football confirmed that Delap had decided on a move to Chelsea ahead of fellow suitors Manchester United and Everton.
And on Friday, TBR Football revealed that Chelsea are hoping to be in a position to announce Delap’s signing by Monday.
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has now spoken about Delap’s imminent Chelsea move, saying there is one thing the England Under-21 ace needs to work on.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Graeme Souness says Liam Delap must improve on his finishing at Chelsea
Graeme Souness wrote about Chelsea in his latest Daily Mail column, touching upon their Europa Conference League win and Cole Palmer’s return to form.
He also discussed Liam Delap’s impending move to Stamford Bridge and, while he said Delap would be a good acquisition, he feels the striker needs to become more clinical in front of goal.
“Liam Delap will be a good acquisition,” wrote Souness. “He has scored goals in an Ipswich Town side that has been scrapping throughout the season.
“I believe he can make that jump to play at the top level with a big club, but he does have to become more clinical in his finishing.”
Souness also juxtaposed Delap with Alejandro Garnacho, a player who the Scottish legend believes “had too much too soon” and now faces an uncertain future at Manchester United.
“Unlike what I have said about Alejandro Garnacho, I think he (Delap) has been educated in the correct way,” Souness continued.
“And having experience on loan in the Championship was a strong part of his development. He will appreciate the opportunity he has to make a name for himself.”
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The exciting link-up on the cards for Liam Delap at Chelsea
Delap is a superb young centre-forward who has been likened to Alan Shearer and, at just 22 years of age, is nowhere near his peak.
Delap is set to be reunited with Palmer, his former academy teammate at Manchester City with whom he also played for England’s Under-21s.
Delap and Palmer shared a pitch 33 times over the years, both for Man City’s academy and for the Young Lions.
Matches played Wins Draws Losses Goals scored Goals against Joint goal participation
33 28 3 2 122 30 8
Liam Delap and Cole Palmer joint record (Transfermarkt)
Both players lost just two of the 33 games in which they played together, and won 28 of those.
Delap and Palmer also scored 122 goals in those 33 games, and they linked up eight times for goals.
“Him (Palmer) and Macca (James McAtee) were both there behind me and, you know, it helped me so much to score,” Delap recently told Sky Sports.
“To win games with them two behind me, it was so good to have two quality players like that.
“Obviously Cole now – the stuff he’s done in the last two years is incredible, and he is one of the better players in the world at the moment.”