Chelsea striker Liam Delap will leave the club just 14 months after his transfer to Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old made his Premier League debut for Chelsea last year after joining from Ipswich Town when his £30 million release clause was triggered.
Despite Chelsea’s successful pursuit amid interest from Manchester United, Newcastle, and Everton, Delap’s performance has not met expectations, with only one league goal in the previous season. As a result, the striker has been deemed surplus to requirements.
While clubs recognize Delap’s potential, interest in him has remained limited due to concerns that his £50 million asking price is too steep, especially following a challenging period at Chelsea. However, the club appears open to negotiations as the transfer window progresses. Chelsea is also moving to loan out defenders Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi, despite initially aiming for permanent departures.
It remains uncertain whether the club will reconsider their asking price for Delap, particularly as they are likely to have three strikers in their squad next season: Joao Pedro, Emmanuel Emegha, and Danny Welbeck.
Nottingham Forest and Leeds have expressed interest, though Leeds has since withdrawn. Those close to Delap indicate he wishes to remain at Chelsea to prove himself, acknowledging that his previous season’s performance fell short of expectations. Delap had to contend with a difficult campaign that saw him play under three different managers and suffer hamstring and shoulder injuries, which impacted his physical play and confidence.
Delap’s priority is now to secure regular first-team football, either through a loan or permanent transfer, although his next destination remains unclear.
Challenges for Delap and Others
Recently, Delap lost his number nine shirt to Joao Pedro, who had a successful season after joining from Brighton. Delap is now part of a group of around 12 players who practice separately at Chelsea’s Cobham training facility, training alongside new manager Xabi Alonso’s first-team squad.
This decision by Alonso comes as he prepares for his first competitive match against Fulham on Monday, making it important to manage a roster of nearly 40 players. While this arrangement may be discouraging for those with uncertain futures, it aims to keep them close to the first team. Chelsea emphasizes that the setup is fluid, allowing new signings like Jordan Henderson and Welbeck to regain fitness even while training separately.
Last season, Chelsea implemented a “bomb squad” strategy, isolating certain players, including Raheem Sterling, who raised concerns over their treatment. The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) previously addressed these practices, which have since been prohibited by FIFA.
Now, Chelsea’s choice to keep the separate training group in close proximity to the first team reflects a heightened awareness of previous issues within the club’s culture, which some sources have labeled as “soulless” or “transactional.”
Delap is not alone in facing an uncertain future; he shares this situation with Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson and defender Tosin Adarabioyo, who has also lost his number four shirt to new signing Valentin Barco.
Chelsea’s Challenge of Reducing Squad Size
Broader concerns for Chelsea involve the need to reduce their squad size, currently at around 40 players, to a more manageable 25-man group, particularly in a season without European competitions. The club is making progress in identifying moves for various players beyond Delap.
Defender Axel Disasi has received permission to seek a medical with Crystal Palace amid ongoing loan negotiations. Omari Kellyman and Deivid Washington are nearing transfers to Chelsea’s partner club, Strasbourg, while Badiashile has recently undergone a medical with Napoli.
Strasbourg has one loan spot available, with Mykhailo Mudryk and Dario Essugo being considered, although both players are drawing interest from Premier League clubs. Defender Mamadou Sarr is also expected to join a Premier League club on loan.
Interest in Adarabioyo is coming from Benfica and Marseille, as well as various Premier League teams. Aston Villa is reportedly interested in Jackson, contingent on the situation regarding Ollie Watkins, while uncertainty remains around Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto, and Malo Gusto, despite their involvement in Alonso’s first-team squad.
Additionally, the future of Marc Guiu, David Datro Fofana, and Caleb Wiley remains unclear, with all three available for loan or permanent transfers. Young Ecuadorian midfielder Kendry Paez is anticipated to return from River Plate and be loaned out to another team.
Chelsea striker Liam Delap is being allowed to leave the club just 14 months after moving to Stamford Bridge.
The 23-year-old was making his Premier League debut for the club at this stage last year after joining from Ipswich Town when his £30m release clause was triggered.
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Chelsea secured his signature amid competition from Manchester United, Newcastle and Everton but, after scoring just once in the league in the previous campaign, he has been deemed surplus to requirements.
Sources close to any potential move said interest has been limited, not because clubs doubt Delap’s ability and potential, but because his £50m asking price is viewed as too high following a difficult spell at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have, however, shown a willingness to negotiate later in the transfer window. Defenders Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi are both leaving on loan despite the club initially attempting to sell them permanently.
It remains to be seen whether the club will reduce their demands for Delap, but they are expected to have three other strikers in their squad next season – Joao Pedro and new signings Emmanuel Emegha and Danny Welbeck.
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Interest has been shown from Nottingham Forest and Leeds, although Daniel Farke’s side have since cooled theirs.
Those close to Delap have previously said he hoped to stay at Chelsea and prove himself.
He is understood to accept his form last season fell below expectations, although there were mitigating factors.
As the club endured a troubled campaign where they finished 10th in the table, Delap played under three different managers and suffered hamstring and shoulder injuries that affected his physical style of play and contributed to a loss of confidence.
His priority is to gain regular first-team football, whether on loan or in a permanent departure, although it remains unclear where he could end up.
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Difficult week for Delap – and others
As reported on Wednesday, Delap lost his number nine shirt to Joao Pedro, who largely excelled at his expense last season after joining from Brighton in the same transfer window.
It followed the Englishman’s move to a group of around 12 players who train separately, albeit alongside new manager Xabi Alonso’s first-team squad, at their Cobham base.
For Alonso, the decision is understandable given the difficulties of working with a squad of around 40 players while preparing for his first competitive match at Fulham in the Premier League on Monday.
However, it was a blow to those players who knew their futures were uncertain, but had previously remained involved with the main training group.
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The new arrangement, though, is designed to keep those players close to the first-team squad. Chelsea insist the system is fluid, pointing to new signings Jordan Henderson and Welbeck building fitness in the second group despite both being part of Alonso’s plans.
Chelsea were among the clubs to use a so-called “bomb squad” last season, effectively isolating a group of players that included Raheem Sterling and Disasi. Those players trained on a separate pitch, in a different area of the training ground and at a different time from the first team.
Several from that group publicly made negative comments about their treatment, while the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), the players’ union, warned Chelsea about the practice.
The approach has since been outlawed by Fifa.
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Chelsea also said their decision to keep the current group close to the first team, using the same gym, changing facilities and dining areas, reflects a period of reflection on what had previously gone wrong.
The club are keen to address wider cultural issues that some sources have previously described as creating a “soulless” or “transactional” atmosphere behind the scenes.
Delap is not the only player facing an uncertain future. Also in the secondary group are Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson and defender Tosin Adarabioyo.
Tosin has also lost his number four shirt to new midfield signing Valentin Barco.
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How are Chelsea coping with reducing squad size?
The reality of Chelsea’s wider situation, though, is they need to be transactional as they look to reduce the size of their squad.
They have around 40 players and need to trim that number closer to a more traditional 25-man party, particularly in a season without European football.
They are beginning to make headway in finding moves for players beyond Delap.
Disasi, 28, has been given permission to travel for a medical with Crystal Palace amid ongoing negotiations over a loan deal.
Omari Kellyman and Deivid Washington are nearing moves to Chelsea’s partner club Strasbourg, while Badiashile has undergone a medical at Napoli.
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One loan place remains available at Strasbourg, with both Mykhailo Mudryk and Dario Essugo under consideration. However, both players are also attracting interest from Premier League clubs, while defender Mamadou Sarr is also expected to join another Premier League club on loan.
Adarabioyo, 28, is attracting interest from Benfica, Marseille and Premier League clubs.
Aston Villa are known to be interested in Jackson, but that will depend on the future of Ollie Watkins, while there remains some uncertainty over Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto despite their involvement in Alonso’s first-team squad.
It also remains unclear where Marc Guiu, David Datro Fofana and Caleb Wiley could end up, with all three available either on loan or as permanent transfers. Young Ecuadorian midfielder Kendry Paez is also expected to be recalled from River Plate and sent on loan elsewhere.
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