Chelsea set for Liam Delap decision for Club World Cup amid England Under-21 clash | OneFootball

Blues close in on £30m deal for Ipswich striker but face potential club-versus-country row

New blue: Liam Delap looks set to join Chelsea from Ipswich this summer

London Standard

Chelsea are pushing to sign Delap before the inaugural expanded summer Club World Cup, which starts in the United States on June 14.

But he has also been named in the England training squad ahead of the U21 Euros, which begin in Slovakia on June 11.

Delap scored 12 goals in 32 Premier League starts for Ipswich last season, including one against Chelsea

AFP via Getty Images

England U21 coach Lee Carsley will name his final 23-man squad for that tournament on June 6.

FIFA have introduced a second transfer window this summer, open between June 1-10, so clubs can sign players before the Club World Cup.

Chelsea would have the power to keep Delap with them if he is signed.

The 22-year-old scored 12 goals in 32 Premier League starts for relegated Ipswich last season and is set to reunite with his former Manchester City youth coach Enzo Maresca.

Delap also had interest from Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest but has made it clear that he wants to move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea want competition for Nicolas Jackson and are said to still be monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, though his £84m price tag is too high.

Delap is set for a medical at Chelsea in the coming days before signing a long-term contract.

As Chelsea close in on Delap, talks are reportedly ongoing over the possibility of Chelsea forward Marc Guiu going to Ipswich on loan in a separate deal.