Chelsea supporters are currently refreshing their feeds, waiting for an official announcement to confirm that Liam Delap has joined them from Ipswich Town.
It’s been heavily linked for over a week now that Liam Delap, 22, will be joining the Blues this summer.
Delap has now agreed to personal terms with Chelsea, and he was scheduled to undergo a medical on Monday. Apparently, a deal has been in place between Chelsea and Ipswich for them to activate the striker’s £30m release clause.
The English centre-forward scored 12 Premier League goals last season for an Ipswich side that slipped to relegation, but he’s earned himself a high-profile transfer because of his potential and quality.
Gary Neville gives thumbs up on Liam Delap to Chelsea
During a segment on It’s Called Soccer!, Gary Neville explained why he thinks Delap’s imminent arrival at Stamford Bridge is a great move for the club.
In addition, he urged Chelsea to continue their aggressive approach to the summer window by signing another centre-forward to compete alongside Delap and Nicolas Jackson.
Neville said: “I like Liam Delap. I think Chelsea need two strikers. I think they need two more on top of Jackson, or even if Jackson were to leave, then two strikers. I don’t think Delap and Jackson are going to get Chelsea where they want to be, which is the top of the league or winning the Champions League. For me, you don’t have three strikers who are all world-class superstars. You have a Jackson. You have a Delap who is younger and who’s got potential to grow. £32m represents good value in today’s market.
“I think that’s a good buy for Chelsea. United wanted him also as well. He’s obviously chosen to go to Chelsea, who are far further ahead than United at this moment in time. I think the idea of having a striker like Jackson, who I think is a handful and who is a threat. Delap, at £32m. I’d then go and get in someone else. Then you’ve got a strong pool of strikers.”
Interestingly, Neville may get his wish because the Blues are rumoured to be chasing another forward as well as Delap.
It’s been reported that Chelsea have broadly agreed personal terms with Hugo Ekitike, the 22-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt striker. He scored 22 goals and created 12 assists in 48 games across all competitions last season for the German club.
Chelsea fans should be excited that Ekitike has been compared to Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak by figures inside the sport.
Liam Delap joint top of Premier League statistic
Without a doubt, Delap is going to bring some serious aggression to Chelsea’s forward line because he can play on the edge.
No other player picked up more yellow cards than him last season in England’s top division.
| Player | Club | Yellow cards |
| Liam Delap | Ipswich Town | 12 |
| Flynn Downes | Southampton | 12 |
| Sasa Lukic | Fulham | 12 |
| Dan Burn | Newcastle United | 11 |
| Moises Caicedo | Chelsea | 11 |
| Will Hughes | Crystal Palace | 11 |
| Manuel Ugarte | Manchester United | 11 |
There is definitely room for a Diego Costa-type striker to lead the line for Chelsea with bite to his game, but it must come with the right balance and plenty of goals.
Ipswich fans expect Delap to succeed at Chelsea as he prepares to take a big step in his career. The fact that Blues manager Enzo Maresca previously coached him in Manchester City’s academy should be some sort of advantage.
