Chelsea handed major boost after top insider claims transfer target will leave his club this summer | OneFootball

Chelsea are front runner to sign Liam Delap and he will leave Ipswich in the summer even if they stay up according to Ben Jacobs.

The Blues were linked with Delap in January, but a mid-season move never materialised, although it’s been reported he’d be open to a switch to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are in desperate need of a number nine to provide an alternative option to Nicolas Jackson and Delap has certainly caught their eye.

Delap set to leave Ipswich in the summer

Delap joined the Tractor Boys from Manchester City last summer for £20m and the English champions do have a buy back clause if they wish to exercise it.

The 22-year-old has scored nine league goals in a struggling Ipswich side, the same Jackson has managed so far this campaign.

Delap came through the academy at City, and played under Enzo Maresca in the City side which won the Premier League 2 title, with Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia also part of that side.

Delap is set to leave Ipswich even if they stay up. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Chelsea will almost certainly sign a striker in the summer, with Benjamin Sesko another name on their list, but Jacobs has provided an update on the future of Delap.

“Chelsea are front-runners to sign Liam Delap, who will leave Ipswich even if they stay up,” he told the Market Madness podcast in words cited on X.com.

“Delap intrigued by the Chelsea project and has ‘strong chance’ to become their number nine.”

Maresca publicly praised Delap earlier in the season, and he’s the profile of striker Chelsea are looking for, with his strengths and characteristics different to those Jackson possesses.

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What sort of fee Ipswich would command remains to be seen, but if they were to get relegated their negotiating position would be significantly weakened.

Manchester United and Liverpool are also thought to have considered the striker, but it’s appears Chelsea are in pole position to complete a deal if they wish to.