Enzo Maresca may have already hinted at what’s next for Nicolas Jackson as Liam Delap agreement is reached

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca could have a big selection headache next season because Liam Delap looks set to arrive and provide competition for Nicolas Jackson in the striker position.

For two seasons now, Nicolas Jackson, 23, has been the first-choice striker for Chelsea. He’s got a decent return of 30 goals in 78 Blues appearances across all competitions, but he’s still a work in progress who needs to brush up on his finishing.

Finally, it looks like he’s about to get some much-needed competition for the No 9 spot.

The widespread transfer speculation this week points towards Ipswich Town frontman Liam Delap completing a move to Stamford Bridge this summer. In fact, Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign Delap, and the 22-year-old English striker is expected to complete a move to West London.

Enzo Maresca saying Nicolas Jackson can play on the wing may take on extra significance

On paper, Delap and Jackson should be in direct competition for the striker position. However, we’re wondering if the duo could ever operate in the same starting line-up?

While Delap is quite clearly an out-and-out centre-forward, Jackson’s all-round game means he’s a bit more flexible.

We think Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca may have already hinted at what could happen with Jackson next season once he’s fighting with Delap for a spot in the team.

Back in August 2024, Maresca described Jackson’s profile as a central striker who can cover on the wing. The Blues manager said nearly a year ago: “For the position, I see Nicolas as a striker… Nicolas is a number nine but if we need him out on the wing, he will be a winger.”

For starters, Jackson and Delap should fight it out to see who can establish themselves as the first-choice forward. There should be plenty of games to rotate across league and cup competitions, too.

Don’t be surprised if Jackson does end up getting some minutes as an inverted left forward, though. In his Villarreal career before he joined Chelsea, he did sometimes operate from wide positions, and it’s something that Maresca has publicly highlighted.

Frank Leboeuf has a question mark over Jackson because he can go from the outstanding to the terrible as a striker.

We think it’s going to be a vital third season for the Senegal international in Chelsea colours, and the addition of Delap to the squad certainly cranks up the pressure on him.

Liam Delap vs Nicolas Jackson this season

Based on this season, we would argue Delap had a more impressive league campaign than soon-to-be teammate Jackson.

While Delap was the shining light in a very poor Ipswich side that suffered relegation, Jackson was a bit hit and miss in a Chelsea team that creates far more chances.

Jason Cundy thinks Delap to Chelsea will help Jackson because the latter has been crying out for extra for two years now.