Liam Delap may not be the glitzy marquee signing we would have expected from the Chelsea of old, but does that mean he might be perfect for the present side?
This week's reports that the young Englishman will be available for a £30m fee upon Ipswich’s relegation to the Championship, which looks almost certain, have sent the rumour mill into a spin.
In his first season in the Premier League, Delap has been a shining light in an otherwise dark season at Portman Road netting 12 times so far, he is the spearhead of an otherwise underwhelming attack. Physically he is a perfect fit for the English top flight, having demonstrated his athleticism against top-rate defenders this year.
Football is in the man’s DNA, and although he may not have inherited his father’s iconic throw-in, Delap has impressed technically and proved himself a dangerous finisher. He is comfortable finishing with both feet, possesses a thunderous strike, and has confidence in his ability to take on shots from range.
Standing six feet tall, he is a box presence and whilst he has not scored a headed goal this season, that is more likely a symptom of the service he has received, with the majority of Ipswich’s goals scored in chaotic, fast-break scenarios.
Delap will be a Premier League player next season, thanks to the number of teams that are rumoured to be following him closely.
Clearly, his ability commands a place in the top flight and his pedigree as a Manchester City academy graduate suggests that his potential to improve is high. At £30m, in the 2025 market, he would be an excellent acquisition for any side.
Is Delap the right fit for Chelsea?
So where do Chelsea stand in contention for his signature, and is he the right fit for us?
His Manchester City connection arguably bolsters Chelsea’s favourable position in the running to secure Delap’s talents this Summer. He ticks several boxes for the current ownership’s recruitment style, given his age, and has previous experience playing under Enzo Maresca for City’s youth squad in the 2020/21. Delap hit the back of the net 24 times, on his way to achieving the Player of the Season award ahead of several impressive teammates including a certain Cole Palmer.
He fits the age profile, is appreciated by our manager, has connections to several of our players through his academy and international experience, and is only 2 goals shy of Cole Palmer's 14 in 2024/25. So what are the potential issues with the deal, and should he be our number one priority?
The jump from Ipswich to Chelsea is clearly a big one, under Maresca we play possession-based football which aims to break down oppositions at a slower pace. Transitioning from relegation-battle, counterattack football will take some getting used to and whilst his current employers may not play such stylish football, his foundation as a City player suggests he is capable of fitting into a more classy system (no offence to any Tractor Boys reading).
Delap has Premier League experience which cannot be overlooked when comparing him to the wealth of other options that Chelsea have been linked with to date. Victor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko or Victor Osimhen would all cost a premium, without guaranteeing success.
The going rate for a top centre-forward is obviously high, even before we consider the “Chelsea tax” which seems to encourage clubs to squeeze extra funds out of us. Newcastle spent £63m on Alexander Isak in 2022 and Manchester City have splashed over £100m in securing Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush in recent years, for example.
Although it is unclear whether Chelsea are in the market for a striker to replace Nicolas Jackson or feature alongside him, all suggestions point to a new number nine joining the club this Summer.
Jackson has averaged 2.7 shots, 26.1 touches and scored 9 goals whilst missing 0.8 big chances per 90 minutes in 2024/25. By comparison, Delap averages 2 shots, 24.5 touches and has 12 goals, missing 0.4 big chances per game.
When looking at the two players, I struggle to buy the narrative that Delap wouldn’t fit our play style, or be able to adapt to it. He gets on the ball a similar amount to our current striker, takes a similar number of shots, and crucially, is more prolific.
Oh, and he’s done all that at a club that sits 18th in the table.
Liam Delap may not be the typical Abramovich-era signing, but big-money moves have embarrassed us in the past. Whilst I don’t doubt the ability of players like Gyokeres, Premier League experience is invaluable in demonstrating a player's quality and evaluating how they will fit into our side.
In the current talent pool of available players, Delap seems the perfect fit for numerous reasons, particularly his price tag. Ultimately, he will attract offers from a number of Premier League sides, from new challengers to the top half all the way to the big-hitters looking to improve already star-studded squads.
For my money, he is the perfect fit, and we could live to regret not laying out a deal that suits Delap and demonstrates how important he would be at our club. In a Summer window that could be a busy one, securing a confident young player in fine form for just £30m seems to be a steal and would presumably leave space in the budget to bolster our squad elsewhere.
Hopefully, the powers that be can convince Delap of Chelsea's appeal, and who knows, a good word from his old academy teammate "Agent Palmer" could go a long way to convincing him of our project at hand.
With that said, the stage now seems perfectly set for Ipswich’s #19 to put in a performance at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, let’s hope he doesn’t enjoy himself too much and can maybe have a contract offer snuck into the away changing room at full time…