Chelsea look to complete new signings ahead of the Club World Cup.Chelsea look to complete new signings ahead of the Club World Cup.
Chelsea look to complete new signings ahead of the Club World Cup. | AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal and Liverpool have also been linked with interest in the Borussia Dortmund forward.
The Blues are set to fork out £30 million to sign Delap from the Tractor Boys, after the 22-year-old bagged 12 league goals for the relegated side last season. The talisman could provide the goalscoring answer for Enzo Maresca amid questions about whether Nicolas Jackson or Christopher Nkunku can lead the line at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have beaten competition from several Premier League rivals to sign the player.
There could be another source of goals on the way for Maresca too. The Telegraph reports that Chelsea have opened talks with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund over a move for winger Jamie Gittens.
Chelsea ‘open talks’ with Borussia Dortmund
The 20-year-old spent time in the Chelsea academy as a youngster, having been born in Reading, but moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2020 before breaking into the first team in 2022. Gittens is a star on the rise but has already racked up 106 appearances for Dortmund.
The winger picked up 12 goals and five assists across all competitions last term. He has already made 23 Champions League appearances in his career and would arrive at Chelsea with experience in that tournament ahead of the Blues’ return next term.
Arsenal and Liverpool are also namechecked as potential suitors after Gittens made just three Bundesliga starts after the middle of February, somewhat falling out of favour. The Telegraph report adds that Chelsea are keen to get a deal for Gittens done before the Club World Cup, which starts in the USA on June 14. Borussia Dortmund are also involved in that competition.
Gittens deal could spell trouble for Jadon Sancho
Gittens is known to have a £50 million release clause in his Dortmund deal, which could facilitate any move from a Premier League side. The winger’s arrival at Stamford Bridge would lead to questions over the future of Jadon Sancho - the club has an obligation to buy the Manchester United man for between £20 and £25 million but could pay £5 million to cancel that.
Maresca is looking to take the Club World Cup seriously as news of incoming transfers continues. The BBC claimed that the tournament is ‘viewed seriously’ at Stamford Bridge because of the revenue it can generate through a total $1 billion prize pot for all clubs, as well as the marketing opportunities to reach a global audience.
Maresca has spoken of a ‘fantastic motivation’ for the tournament. He said: "That's what you need to see it as, as a source of motivation. As I've told you before, when you're at Chelsea, your goal is to win as much as you can. And when we're there, that will be one of our goals: to try to win it."
In other news, Chelsea early FIFA Club World Cup injury news as 3 ruled out and 2 doubts for United States trip.
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