Liam Delap has not been at Chelsea for long, but the striker is already making quite the impact and impression.
He came on in Chelsea‘s 2-0 win against Los Angeles FC in the Club World Cup and was able to register an assist after his cross found Enzo Fernandez.
The Blues’ other goalscorer on the night, Pedro Neto, has been impressed with Delap since his arrival from Ipswich Town.
However, the Portugal international is not the only Chelsea player who has been praising Delap.
Tosin Adarabioyo on Liam Delap’s ‘aggressive pressing’
Tosin Adarabioyo has also been lauding his new teammate, with the defender impressed with how aggressively he presses.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website about Delap, Adarabioyo said: “He’s settled in very well. He’s a good young lad and we know how good he is, with his aggressive pressing.
“He’s an aggressive striker, making sure he’s always there, setting the intensity, and I hope he scores plenty of goals for us.”
Chelsea fans will now be hoping that they get to see more of the striker when Enzo Maresca‘s side take on Flamengo this Friday. And it is a possibility.
Maresca has already hinted that Delap could start, with the Chelsea head coach planning to rotate his team. It means that Nicolas Jackson is likely to drop down to the bench.
Like Delap, the 23-year-old was also able to record an assist against LAFC, setting up Neto’s opener. Maresca is keen to see how Jackson responds to the challenge of Delap’s arrival, with both players now fighting for a spot in the Italian’s team.
How Tosin Adarabioyo currently feels at Chelsea
Following Chelsea’s acquisition of Delap, Jackson’s long-term future at Stamford Bridge has come into doubt.
There has also been speculation about Adarabioyo’s future despite the 27-year-old having only joined Chelsea last summer.
However, it is thought that Adarabioyo is very happy at Chelsea and is not looking to leave the club.
The former Fulham man played 37 games last season and started his side’s group stage opener at the Club World Cup. With that in mind, it is unlikely that Maresca will force him out of Stamford Bridge during this transfer window.
| Tosin Adarabioyo’s 2024/25 stats | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Premier League | 22 | 1 | 1 |
| Conference League | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Conference League qualifiers | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| FA Cup | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Carabao Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 37 | 4 | 1 |
Adarabioyo may not be a starter next term, though, especially if Chelsea go on to sign a new centre-back.
