Everton are said to be showing interest in Liam Delap ahead of the summer – and a report has outlined why it hasn’t happened for him at Chelsea.
Everton showed interest in Delap last summer, but the striker ultimately signed for the Blues in a deal worth around £30 million (Sky Sports).
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Richarlison of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. Liam Delap of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Newcastle United.
Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine/Mike Hewitt.
Other clubs had shown an interest in Delap, who had really impressed for newly promoted Ipswich Town.
But he headed to Stamford Bridge – and the move has not worked out.
The former Manchester City youngster has scored just one Premier League goal for them in 24 appearances so far, which is disappointing.
As a result of his struggles, there is a possibility he could leave after just one season.
Everton have been linked, but it might just be that he has become too big a risk for the Toffees.
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Why Liam Delap’s move to Chelsea hasn’t worked out as Everton ponder summer swoop
The Athletic have run a feature about Delap, who has now gone 20 games without a goal for Chelsea.
The consensus of the piece is that this really has been a season where not much has gone right for the player.
He was sidelined earlier in the campaign with a hamstring injury and, upon returning, just hasn’t been able to build any kind of rhythm and consistency.
And that has been the biggest issue for Delap, who remains on Everton’s radar ahead of the summer.
Sources, The Athletic say, have claimed that ‘a lack of regular starts is something Delap has found hard to adjust to at Chelsea’.
The situation is said to be in ‘complete contrast’ to how he felt in 2024/25.
After starting 32 of the 37 Premier League games he was available for for Ipswich, Delap has now started just 10 of 24 for Chelsea. His longest run of consecutive starts in all competitions stands at just two, and even this has only happened three times.
Essentially, the suggestion is that Delap needs a consistent run in the team if he’s to start making returns.
So if Everton come in for him this summer, then potentially David Moyes would have to commit to starting him most games in order to make the move a success. Seemingly, he’s not someone who’ll make an impact coming off the bench.
Liam Delap playing for Chelsea.
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Indeed, Delap has only ever scored two goals coming on as a substitute in his club career to date.
Surely it’d be a big gamble for Moyes to get him in and just give him full trust immediately, given his current struggles.
Perhaps if Everton really did want to look at signing Delap this summer, then Toffees officials should look into a loan deal, with a potential option to buy.
Maybe this wouldn’t suit what Chelsea want, but as things currently stand, Everton straight up purchasing Delap this summer would be a risk.
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