Everton are likely to be in the market for a new striker this summer – and Liam Delap’s latest performance for Chelsea may have put David Moyes on alert.
Delap hit three assists for the Blues as they cruised past Hull City in the FA Cup to reach the fifth round.
Meanwhile the Everton players had a free weekend to rest and recuperate, after losing to Sunderland in the third round last month.
Winter window now shut, what striker do you want signed in the summer for Everton? 💥
No excuses can be made when the window opens again 😫
Troy Parrott lined up for the Republic of Ireland. Ivan Toney playing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. Richarlison playing for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Credit: Getty Images/Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile/Yasser Bakhsh/Molly Darlington/Copa.
Hopefully though, the manager’s two strikers will have been putting in some extra shooting practice ahead of facing Manchester United.
Thierno Barry and Beto are both under the microscope again with the goals having dried up.
If both struggle again this weekend, then it will only increase the clamour for Everton to sign a new number nine – and perhaps Delap will have moved up the club’s list of targets.
Liam Delap stars in Chelsea win, amid Everton interest
Liam Delap embraces Liam Rosenior.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Everton are said to be monitoring Delap again going into the summer window, and it will be very interesting to see if the Toffees make a move.
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We all know that the club wanted to sign him last summer, with Moyes even publicly admitted Delap was a player Everton would be keen on.
Moyes may therefore have been put on alert by Delap’s showing against Hull, with the striker making three assists.
Pedro Neto stole the headline after hitting a hat-trick, but Delap really showed his creative side at the MKM Stadium.
He teed up Neto for the opening goal, before powerfully running the channel and getting into the box and squaring for Willian Estevao for 2-0.
Delap then showed good hold-up play, setting up Neto with a neat one-two.
It was a seriously good second-half showing from Delap, who recovered well after a pretty poor moment in the first-half when he thought he’d scored after the ball rebounded against him, prompting him to celebrate too early before the chance vanished.
Delap would be an upgrade on Barry and Beto
It hasn’t been an easy start for Delap at Chelsea, hence the reports of an early exit for him.
But if there is indeed any chance he could depart after just one season then Everton definitely need to consider an approach.
Hull City v Chelsea - Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
His move to Chelsea always felt a bit of a strange choice, given the levels of expectation, and also chaos at times, at Stamford Bridge.
With how Delap plays, he would surely endear himself to the Hill Dickinson faithful fairly quickly.
As he showed against Hull, he can hold the ball up so well, and his time at Ipswich was clear evidence he can score goals in the Premier League.
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