Chelsea appear to be closing in on the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, who are powerless to prevent their talisman from leaving the club this summer.
Earlier this week, The Chelsea Chronicle reported that Chelsea were confident of landing Delap ahead of rivals Manchester United.
It is now being reported elsewhere that the striker has given a move to Stamford Bridge the green light in a massive boost to Enzo Maresca.
Should Delap join Chelsea as expected, he will quickly be presented with the chance to do something that Nicolas Jackson said no to.
Liam Delap could choose to wear No.9 shirt
The No.9 shirt at Chelsea is currently vacant, meaning that Delap will have the opportunity to pick it.
Jackson is Chelsea’s first-choice striker and could have taken the No.9 shirt when he joined the Blues from Villarreal in 2023.
According to the Daily Mail, Jackson was offered it, but the 23-year-old declined and went with the No.15 jersey instead.
The No.9 shirt has become infamous at Chelsea, with many feeling that it is cursed after Romelu Lukaku, Alvaro Morata and Fernando Torres’ struggles while donning it. It was clearly something that Jackson wanted to stay far away from.
Chelsea are really pushing to sign Delap, and the English youngster will have to decide whether to take the No.9 shirt or not if he does join Enzo Maresca‘s side.
Liam Delap’s current shirt number at Ipswich Town
If Delap wants to wear the number that he is currently using at Ipswich at Chelsea, then the 22-year-old will need one Chelsea player to leave this summer.
Delap is sporting the No.19 jersey at Ipswich, which Jadon Sancho is currently in possession of at Chelsea.
There is a possibility of the winger departing west London, with Chelsea yet to confirm if they are going to sign him permanently.
Chelsea signed Sancho from Manchester United on loan with an obligation to buy last summer but can pay a penalty fee to send him back to Old Trafford. Joe Cole is keen for Sancho to remain at Stamford Bridge, however.
