Chelsea have taken a brave and ruthless transfer approach in recent years, signing the best young talent on the market before establishing themselves at the highest level.
This included buying likes Enzo Fernandez from Benfica, plenty of Brazilian talent like Willian Estevao and other smart signings like Nicholas Jackson, Malo Gusto and, of course, Cole Palmer.
The Blues clearly want to cover all profile types in every department and have done well to do so. However, one area they have yet to complete in the team building department is adding a dominant striker to their ranks and that could be the next port of call.
Chelsea eyeing Premier League star
According to David Ornstein, speaking on The Athletic FC PodcastChelsea have Ipswich striker Liam Delap on their radar as they assess the market for another striker profile to compete with Nicholas Jackson.
Other clubs interested include Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and even Manchester City, who could re-sign Delap after selling him to Ipswich in the summer.
“Through a lot of conversations I’ve had, it’s been clear that the biggest guns, the so-called top six, members of that, call it the elite if you like, like your Chelsea, Manchester United, they’re looking very closely. They’re watching him, they’re interested in him.” – Ornstein to Delap.
Many clubs are interested in the 21-year-old forward as he has shown bright signs of development at Ipswich this season, even as the “obvious long-term successor” on Harry Kane in the England team by Danny Murphy.
Delap has made 15 appearances for the Tractor Boys this season, scoring six goals and providing one assist, totaling 1,046 minutes so far. But the young forward could thrive even more with better playmakers around him, one of them being Chelsea’s summer signing, Jadon Sancho.
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How Jadon Sancho could improve Liam Delap
Since joining the Blues this summer from Manchester United, Sancho has made nine appearancesscored one goal, provided five assists and totaled 492 minutes of play.
The wide player has already shown his creative skills, providing those five assists, with a mix of different tools, picking out teammates with crosses in the box, finding clever passes at the feet of forwards in the penalty area and even dropping inside. the box itself with tight control.
|
Jadon Sancho vs Liam Delap comparison |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90 minutes) |
Sancho |
Delap |
|
Goals |
0.18 |
0.51 |
|
It helps |
0.91 |
0.08 |
|
xG |
0.06 |
0.32 |
|
xAG |
0.33 |
0.06 |
|
Progressive Carries |
5.93 |
1.93 |
|
Progressive passes |
5.93 |
1.05 |
|
Shots Total |
0.91 |
2.12 |
|
Goal/Shoot |
0.20 |
0.24 |
|
Key Passes |
1.85 |
0.79 |
|
Moves to the pen area |
3.15 |
0.35 |
|
Actions to create shots |
4.26 |
2.19 |
|
Aerial duels won |
0.00 |
1.58 |
|
Statistics taken from FBref |
||
Those creative measurements combined with Delap’s clinical finishing and aerial ability would be a brilliant combination as Sancho would have more of a focal point in the middle to play off of, finding those intricate passes at the striker’s feet to hold onto high and crosses to attack in the air.
Against Crystal Palace, Delap won eight of his nine aerial duelswhich shows exactly the type of striker he is. Standing at 6-foot-1 and having a strong upper body, it allows the 21-year-old to bully opposing defenders inside the box and shape shots for himself, whether on the floor or in the air.
Delap – who is an “unbelievable” striker in the eyes of Pep Guardiola – would offer Chelsea the perfect striker partner to complement Jackson, giving them different options for different tactical match-ups, and therefore presenting Maresca with even more in his toolbox to influence games with tactical decisions both before and during races.
