Chelsea have supposedly struck a 'total agreement' to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, who will imminently join the Blues in a £30m deal.
Earlier on Thursday, it was reported that the former Manchester City starlet was leaning towards a move to Stamford Bridge over the likes of Newcastle United and Manchester United.
As Delap possessed a £30m release clause in his Ipswich deal - which activated when Kieran McKenna's men were relegated from the Premier League - the Tractor Boys were powerless to prevent him talking to other clubs.
Chelsea quickly signalled their intention to pay the striker's buyout clause, and according to The Athletic, the Blues and Ipswich have now reached a complete agreement for the striker's transfer.
The report adds that Delap and the Londoners are expected to agree personal terms with minimal fuss, and it is seemingly only a matter of time before he becomes Enzo Maresca's latest acquisition.
Chelsea 'win seven-team battle' for Delap
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As well as Newcastle and Man United, Everton and Nottingham Forest had apparently expressed an interest in signing Delap, as did Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus.
However, each of the 22-year-old's other six suitors have now been told that he is heading for West London, where he will be competing with Nicolas Jackson for a spot in the Chelsea attack.
Maresca also has Marc Guiu in his ranks at Stamford Bridge, but the ex-Barcelona product is believed to be of interest to Ipswich, who could sign him on loan to temporarily negate the loss of Delap.
The latter will leave Ipswich with a record of 12 goals and two assists from 40 appearances in all competitions since joining in a £20m deal last summer, registering all of those contributions in the Premier League.
Man City also stand to benefit from Delap's move to Chelsea, as they inserted a 20% sell-on clause on any profit Ipswich make above the initial £20m, meaning that they are in line for a £2m windfall.
What shirt number could Delap take at Chelsea?
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Rather than take the coveted number nine jersey at Ipswich, Delap donned the number 19 during his short time at Portman Road, and that shirt could become available at Stamford Bridge this summer.
Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho sported that jersey in 2024-25, but the Blues are still weighing up whether to keep him or pay a £5m penalty fee to send him back to Old Trafford.
Should the 19 become free, Delap could don the same shirt that Diego Costa did for three years between 2014 and 2017, before Mason Mount wore the '19' from 2019 to 2023.
However, Chelsea have not had any striker wear the famed '9' since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2022, although Jackson will no doubt have his eyes on that jersey as well.
As a result, more than one battle could be brewing between Delap and Jackson next season, as the duo fight for minutes in Maresca's system and also wrestle for possession of the number nine shirt.
Ben Knapton
