Chelsea have reached an agreement with Liam Delap on personal terms as they look to sign the Ipswich Town striker ahead of rivals Manchester United, according to the latest reports.
While boss Enzo Maresca faced criticism in the 2024-25 season, he managed to secure Champions League football and win the Conference League final.
Playing in Europe's premier club competition represents a sign of genuine progress, and it could also make the Londoners an attractive prospect to transfer targets.
Chelsea had been linked with the signature of Ipswich Town striker Delap, who has a £30m release clause in his contract, but Manchester United were also said to be long-term admirers.
The Athletic claims that the Englishman has chosen Stamford Bridge and has agreed to sign a six-year deal, with his medical planned for Monday.
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What can Delap offer Chelsea?
While Ipswich were relegated from the Premier League after finishing 19th, Delap still managed to enjoy a strong season, scoring 12 goals and providing two assists.
The 22-year-old excels when he is able to pin his opponent before using his size and strength to generate a shot, and his ability to hold up the ball could see him form an excellent partnership with Cole Palmer.
Palmer and Delap played together at youth level for Manchester City and England, and the duo could help get the best out of each other given that the latter thrives when passes are played into the box.
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Could Chelsea stunt Delap's development?
Delap may benefit from being integrated into the Chelsea XI gradually considering the step up from battling relegation to playing in the Champions League is sizeable, and he could experience difficulties in his first few months.
Whether the striker is afforded the patience that he needs to fulfil his potential remains to be seen, especially as Chelsea will be expected to challenge higher up the table next term.
Additionally, the Blues have been strongly linked with Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt, and it is hard to see how Delap would be satisfied with a spot on the bench if Maresca was to favour Ekitike.
Lewis Nolan
