· 5 June 2025, 19:00
**Newcastle United missed out on £30 million Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap as the 22-year-old opted to join Chelsea.**
We've often taken shots at Chelsea's transfer policy, which from the outside just seems like "it moves, we will sign it". Which, given that they have made 39 permanent signings in the last 36 months since Todd Boehly took over the club, seems pretty accurate.
A lot of their signings have flopped, which is understandable as you can't just keep throwing players together and expecting it to work without giving them a chance to gel - also changing manager every five minutes isn't going to help either.
It's baffling, then, that players keep going there. The Blues have beaten Newcastle to several signings over the last couple of years from youngsters to first-team players, and it makes us wonder what we're doing wrong.
Liam Delap would have been a perfect addition to Eddie Howe's squad
There's not much between Chelsea and Newcastle these days, but we'd argue things are better at the Toon
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If you look at the two clubs over the last couple of years, both have undergone takeovers in very different circumstances. While Newcastle have thrived under their new ownership, Chelsea has faltered, although you could arguably say they're starting to move in the right direction, finally.
Granted, Chelsea managed to finish above Newcastle this season and lifted the Europa Conference League trophy, the Chelsea of old wouldn't have been anywhere near that competition, instead, they'd have been gunning for the Champions League.
Newcastle lifted the Carabao Cup, which may be the lowest of the major domestic honours, but given it is the Magpies' first trophy in 56 years, it shows the massive leaps the club has taken since the PIF kicked Mike Ashley out of St James' Park.
Not only that, but the PIF have been open about their project and their dream to make Newcastle a regular contender for honours. It's one of the most exciting projects in the game, backed by the endless money of the Saudi Arabian Pubic Investment Fund. The only ceiling on Newcastle's potential is an artificial one placed by outside sources, we're looking at you, PSR!
Newcastle really need to work on their recruitment pitch
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Yet, despite all this, players still keep choosing Chelsea. Their sales pitch must be amazing, our ours sucks. Liam Delap has spoken about why he joined Chelsea over Newcastle and Manchester United (h/t [Shields Gazette](https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/liam-delap-chelsea-newcastle-united-transfer-decision-5162289)), and it only confuses us more.
> “Growing up watching this club, I understand the stature of it and how incredible it has been over the years.
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> “I wanted to come here to win trophies. When I spoke to the club, everyone wanted to get back to the very top, and they have the quality and the players to do that. The hunger and desire to keep adding trophies, to take the club back to where it belongs, that is the main objective.”
Newcastle are in a position to win trophies, we've shown that by, you know, winning a trophy. Newcastle also want to get to the very top and have the players to do that, or at least we would if they didn't all keep joining Chelsea. But we also have Eddie Howe, who is the perfect coach for young talent like Delap.
What are we not saying to these players that's making them go elsewhere to clubs in a similar, but arguably slightly worse, position?