Everton Lead Chase Of £30m Striker: Does He Fit Into Moyes’ Tactics? | OneFootball

Liam Delap is on the move again. Stamford Bridge chiefs have stuck a £30 million price tag on his back and put him on the transfer list alongside two other squad forwards. His representatives are already locked in discussions with several Premier League clubs. Yet it is Everton standing right at the front of the queue, having watched him slip through their fingers just 12 months ago.

Chelsea open door to Liam Delap’s sale as Everton make transfer move

Leeds United want him. Newcastle United are sniffing around too. But Delap is looking closely at Merseyside. David Moyes’ vision at the brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium is turning heads, offering something London simply couldn’t: guaranteed, week-in, week-out minutes. Money isn’t driving this one. Finding a proper home to play football is all that matters to the 23-year-old right now.

It was a nightmare year in West London. A miserable 2025/26 campaign saw the former England under-21 international completely frozen out under Liam Rosenior. 35 appearances across all competitions sound decent on paper, but dig a little deeper and the frustration becomes crystal clear. Just two goals. Zero assists. In the Premier League, he got a meagre 12 starts in 28 matches, finding the net just once against Tottenham Hotspur. A lone European goal in five Champions League outings did little to turn his fortunes around.

Chelsea are ready to cut their losses. With Stamford Bridge officials closing in on a deal for Brighton veteran Danny Welbeck, the Blues want their initial £30 million outlay back.

T4O’s opinion on why Everton must sign the attacker

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 16: Liam Delap of Chelsea looks on during the warm up prior to the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Manchester City on May 16, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

He fits. Simple as that. Moyes loves a specific type of No. 9, and Delap is built for the Scot’s tactical blueprint. Moyes needs a tireless, physical presence up front. A forward who thrives on dirty work, throwing his weight around, holding off centre-backs, and tearing into the channels to drag defenders out of position.

Ignore the headline stats. Yes, two goals from 35 games looks dreadful on a fantasy football draft. The underlying numbers tell a completely different story. Delap managed 2.94 shots and over five touches inside the opposition box per 90 minutes last term. The instincts haven’t vanished. The service did.

Everton cannot afford to hang about on this. Not for a second. With Beto and Thierno Barry both facing massive question marks over their futures, going into the new season light on options up front is pure suicide. We know what Delap can do when given a proper run. He smashed in 12 Premier League goals for Ipswich Town back in 2024/25 when someone actually trusted him. Plunging £30 million into a hungry 23-year-old with a chip on his shoulder is an absolute no-brainer, particularly with Moyes’ track record of polishing raw talent into proper top-flight goalscorers.